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Cornell University Library

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CORNELL

UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

 

 

 

THE
CHARLES WILLIAM WASON

COLLECTION ON CHINA
AND THE CHINESE

L
B

Q

°
wetter

Scale of Miles

yee

Te

   

Meéssion Statiers.
Cities awai ting occupation,
sarge villages.

aid ways.
CarT voads,

MAP OF THE FIELD

°

 

3H°
Our First Decade

im Chima
1905—1915

THE AUGUSTANA MISSION
IN THE PROVINCE
OF HONAN

 

PUBLISHED BY
CHINA MISSION BOARD OF AUGUSTANA SYNOD.

&
 

 

 

 

 

OUR PIONEER MISSIONARIES IN CHINA.
REV. AND MRS, A. W. EDWINS AND THEIR CHILDREN
PLCTURE TAKEN DURING TILEIR FIRST FURLOUGH, 1911
FORORD

I dag, den 16 sept. 1915, ar det jamnt tio 4r, sedan missiondr
A. W. Edwins och hans hustru antraidde sin forsta resa till det
fjarran hednalandet Kina. Sedan dess har en hel ‘‘evangelisters ”
skara”’ rest samma vag for att med var fdrste missionaér upptaga
arbetet pa det under Herrens ledning af pastor Edwins erhallna
faltet i provinsen Honan, Kina. Foljande personer utgéra nu pa
detta falt var synods representanter: pastor A. W. Edwins med
hustru, pastor A. E. Trued med hustru, pastor Mauritz Hanson,
pastor J. W. Lindbeck med hustru, pastor Victor E. Swenson med
hustru, pastor J. L. Benson med hustru, pastor Nels Benson med
hustru, pastor Gustav Carlberg med hustru, pastor David W.
Vikner med hustru, pastor John L. Lindell med hustru, med. dr
C. P. Friberg med hustru, med. dr Oscar Lindorff med hustru,
diakonissorna Ingeborg Nystul, Thyra Lawson, Hanna Engberg
och Elvira Person, l4rarinnan miss Hanna Colberg samt lekman-
namissiondrerna C. O. Sphira och C. O. Forsberg med deras
hustrur. Inalles 32 personer, en ung, fOrhoppningsfull, missio-
nens heliga sak hangifven skara. Ett omfattande, rikligen val-
signadt grundlaggningsarbete har under den flydda tioarsperioden
blifvit utfordt. I syfte att l4mna en sammanfattande erinran om
huru Herren hittills har hulpit i detta arbete, samt gifva uttryck at
nagra tankar och férhoppningar om vidare utveckling under ar
som komma, hafva vara missiondrer velat utgifva denna lilla
minnesskrift. Missionens styrelse har hemma har med gladje
och tacksamhet godkant och uppmuntrat foretaget. Por att fa
historien om denna mission fran dess bérjan 4fven har hemma,
ombad styrelsen pastor A. F. Almer att lamna en noggrann fram-
stallning darom. De uppgifter, som han i denna sin framstiall-
ning gifvit om forhandlingar, samtal och 6fverlaggningar, inre
och yttre kamp, 4ro hamtade dels ur skrifna protokoll, dels ur
artikelforfattarens egen sakkannedom pa grund af hans nara for-
bindelse med denna missionsrorelse fran dess forsta bérjan. Vid
CONTENTS

Map OF the: -Wielal. jccnnineica date jus eee im wes ad sae on Pee ee gwar abs vate 1
lal OF Workers se isats eq tals ck cad aanaes ued days doe G hard oe MRSA ROSS EH 8
The Stoiy Of Owr Mission: aves nduls cua ee dean 44 welds exes sede 9
OUT IGN) saiini Sram otaenenten ate neues eds cee sine saa one Ataee ged ane 19
The Religions: of the Chinese c.dcscsaciscecids cesar weeds wanes ten nes 23
Temples in and around Hsiichow ......... 0.2... ee eee eee ee ee ee eee 30
A. Sketeh Of Chinese: Liles coded accse ed tees coo Pe RA hae Teese nae é 33
Vid tio ars-festen den 21 oktober 1915........... 0... cece eee eee 41
Huru evangelium bringas till vara kinesiska bréder................ 43
WUCHOW <MiUISSIOMSAIStTIKC. ouey ba a eugiw nen seme wacom ye pine da a wegES 51
En ny missionaérs erfarenheter .............. eee eee ete eee ete ence 55
Greetings from Nalive Evangelists... sve. ce4 cay ee eae een eee yen vexned 59
What Can We Do for the Women on Our Field? .................. 63
Chinese Methods of Healing ............. cece cece tenes 66
En 1lakares tillfalle att predika evangelium ..................0000- 70
Needs and Opportunities of Our Medical Mission Work............ 75
Present Aspects of Our Educational Work ........... ccc eee eee ee sip)
Boys” “Scwool): for BUN: cise 7s acess lees ere esac doe bse b ehka ais ako eeadearee se Mebae eee 87
Latiguage School of CHIKUNESHAN 2... cas ccc wnisncaernadewrnedwanens 93
The Day cf Opportunity in Our Educational Work ................ 97
How God Has Blessed the Work cf Our Mission .................. 103
Kina-missionens grundlaggande verksamhet inom Augustana-synoden 109
Hvad kunna vi gora fOr var mission i Kina?............... 0000s 124
Sorgebud fran vart f4lt i Kina «cccccccsscuesncewn sanias eee RHR so 129
List: Of (Missionaries, g42 passe so dae gouldke evo anes aus ye edie aed eee Res 131

General BestieS. cco sede cue pase ees Bak Re ak Be ee SENS Red Bey 132
6 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

begrundandet af hvad som skett ma vi gifva Herren aran, ty han
har gjort det, och det dr ett under fOr vara 6gon, att han, i trots
af de manskliga redskapens stora bristfalligheter, dock har behagat
verka detta verk ibland oss.

Denna lilla skrift, som harmed lamnas at vart folk, vill ock
vara ett tacksamt erkdnnande fér den karlek, de forbdner och
uppoftringar, som fran sa manga kommit var Kina-mission till
deli sa rikt matt. I ord och bild fan | har se nagra skona frukter
af hvad 1 hafven gjort fér denna mission. Ma de vunna resul-
taten géra oss alla glada och tacksamma samt uppmuntra till
nya anstrangningar och trogen uthallighet i det pabdrjade arbetet.
Det ar afven vart hopp, att genom denna minnesskrift manga
nya vanner skola vinnas for var hednamission. Den vill ock
vara ett macedoniskt rop om flera arbetare i den myckna skér-
den. Var bon dr nu, att den ma bland vart folk vinna ett val-
villigt mottagande och fa den spridning, som framjar andamalet
med dess utgifvande.

Att bade svenska och engelska spraken anvandts, kanske dr
en brist, men beror pa det svara spraklage, i hvilket vi for nar-
varande befinna oss. Vi hoppas dock, att denna omstandighet
ej skall minska bokens verkliga varde fdr sitt missionsandamal,
utan hellre férdka detta darigenom, att anvandningen af bada
spraken mdjliggér erhallandet af en stérre lasekrets.

Undertecknad och prof. I. M. Anderson hafva af Kina-missions-
styrelsen fatt uppdraget att ombesérja bokens redigering och ut-
gifvande. Alla manuskript och illustrationer samt hela bokens
plan kommo dock sa val och fullstandigt utfdrda till oss fran
bréderna i Kina, att vi ha behoft géra foga mer 4n féranstalta
om tryckningen. Ett hjartligt tack uttalas harmed till alla, som
lamnat bidrag till bokens innehall eller pa annat satt medverkat
vid utgifvandet af denna minnesskrift. Valsigne Herren 4fven
detta arbete till missionens framgang!

Pa missionsstvrelsens uppdrag,

F. M. ECKMAN.
Moorhead, Minn., den 16 sept. 1915.
 

 

 

THE STORY OF OUR MISSION.

Beginnings.

“Ce 9] HE antecedents of the China Mission of the Evangelical
Ex Ki] Lutheran Augustana Synod date back about a quarter of
(ORS) oe

Seige! a century. In the early nineties many members of our
Ge Church cherished the hope that the Augustana Synod would
engage in some fresh foreign-mission enterprise. At first the China
field was not definitely thought of, but as the sentiment in favor of
the new undertaking grew the trend of events also pointed with in-
creasing clearness to China as the field which ought to be entered, and
the result was that the second year of this century witnessed the for-
mation of a society whose aim was to begin a mission in China. Some
missionary calls were extended, but none accepted until the year 1905,
which year thus marks the beginning of our mission.

  

First Missionaries.

Our Synod’s first missionaries — the writer and his wife — arrived
at Shanghai on the twenty-first of October, 1905. More than half of
their first year in China was spent at Fancheng, Hupeh, where the
Hauge Synod’s Mission had labored effectively for a considerable
length of time. The opportunity thus given the new arrivals to spend
several months at an old mission station proved to be of great value
and importance. They were guided in their early language studies,
advised regarding conditions and customs in China, cheered and
helped in many ways. For all this they will cherish feelings of life-
long gratitude to the friends in the Hauge Mission.
1905
1912
1913
1914

1911

1912
1914
1914

1906
1913
1914
1914

1908
1912

1912

1914

1908
1212

1914

STAFF OF WORKERS.

HSUCHOW.

Rey. A. W. Epwins anp Mrs. Epwins.
Hanna ENGBERG.

Mr. Cart ForsserG AND Mrs. Forsperc.
Rev. J. L. Benson ann Mrs. BENson.

YUCHOW.
Mr. C. O. A. SpHina anp Mrs. SpHira (Joined mission as
Mrs. Sphira, 1914).
Tyra Lawson.
Rev. D. W. Vikner and Mrs. VIKNER.
Exvira PrEarson.

KIAHSIEN.
IncEeBora Nystut.
Rev. V. E. Swenson anp Murs. SWENSON.
Rav. Nets Benson anp Mrs. BENSON.
Miss Hanna CoLBerc.

JUCHOW.

Rev. A. E. Truep anp Mrs. Truep.

O. W. Liyporrr, M. D., axyp Mrs. Linporrr (Joined the
mission as Miss Hedvig Wahlberg, 1913).

Rey. M. B. Hanson (Stationed at Paofeng, but for the
present working in Juchow).

Rev. Gustav CarLberG AND Mrs. CArunenc.

HONANFU.

C. P. Frrperc, M. D., aNnp Mrs. Fripera.

Rev. J. W. Linpseck anp Mus. LtnpBucx (Joined the mis-
sion as Magda Hallquist, 1910).
Rev. J. J. Linpert anp Mrs. LInDELL.
THE STORY OF OUR MISSION 1i

 

 

idle spectators. The village street was
crowded to the utmost, and through
that crowded street our clumsy mule
carts had to make their way. On see-
ing that we were foreigners many in
the crowd began to yell out a kind of
unearthly war whoop. Our drivers
were somewhat uneasy and desired to
move on as fast as the dense crowd
would make way. Our two-wheeled
carts swayed more or less from side to
side on the uneven road. A basket of
Chinese steamed bread was upset by a
slight collision with one of our carts.
The vender, a young boy, screamed
loudly as his little loaves rolled on the
ground and were snatched up by the
thievish bystanders. This episode perhaps increased the commotion
somewhat. Little by little, however, our carts plowed their way
through the dense mass of surging humanity and we were soon on
the point of leaving the crowd behind us, but then the mob fol-
lowed us, hooting and yelling and hurling at us and our mules and
vehicles whatever missiles were at hand. Our mules were beaten
most unmercifully with large, heavy lumps of sun-dried clay. Some
of our little company also received heavy blows from the flying mis-
siles. The mules pulling the foremost cart stopped and for some mo-
ments it seemed as though we might be surrounded, but fortunately
our drivers succeeded in getting their animals started again, and by
rapid driving we managed to outdistance the howling mob.

 

WEST GATE. HSUCHOW.

“Tle leadeth me.”

Our unpleasant encounter with a Chinese mob led us to consult with
some officials. These kindly provided us with a military escort, but
advised us to travel by another route than the one we had intended
to follow. A few days’ travel by the new route took us to Hsiang-
cheng, a city near the Peking-Hankow railway. At this city we met
some of the leading China Inland Mission workers in the province
of Honan. Information given by these missionaries, together with
10 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

Finding a Field.

One of the chief benefits of spending some time with older mis-
sionaries was the help we received when seeking to decide on a field
for our future labors in China. In the spring of the year 1906 it was
my privilege to accompany two of the older missionaries of the mission
referred to on a long and interesting northward tour for the purpose
of finding a suitable mission field for the Augustana Synod. At the
time, conditions in several parts of China were by no means tranquil.
Rumors of sedition and anti-foreign movements were rife. Some parts

 

 

 

 

_ i]

TRAVELING UP THE RIVER HAN,
Rev. and Mrs. A. W. Edwins on their first trip into central China, 1905.

of the province of Honan, whither we were to go, were in a state of
insurrection. Some friends warned us not to venture upon so long a
journey at such a time, but those who had planned for the tour had
committed the entire matter to God in prayer and counted confidently
upon His faithfulness for guidance and protection.

Assaulted by a Mob.

To our knowledge no danger threatened us at any time except on
the second day of our journey. Then it happened that we were at-
tacked by a mob at a country village where two of the common Chi-
nese open-air theaters had attracted a concourse of about two thousand
THE STORY OF OUR MISSION 13

 

taken to secure a footing and to open stations in other cities. Next
after Hsiichow, our base on the great Pehan railway, we desired to
obtain a foothold in the important city of Juchow, which lies very
nearly in the geographical center of our field. In the spring of 1909
I had the privilege of accompanying an old missionary on an over-

 

 

 

 

Rev. and Mrs. A. W. Edwins and Sister Ingeborg Nystul at their
first home in Hsiichow.

land tour from Hsiichow to Honanfu via Juchow. Others had told
me many things about Juchow, old Juchow on the narrow plain be-
tween the mountains, Juchow the famous center of robber activities,
the city to which the traveler should not arrive after dark and which
he should not leave before daylight, according to statements current
among the Chinese. We both reached and left the city in safety.
12 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

the kind attitude they took towards our new mission, led to a decision
in our choice of a field. These kind messengers of the Lord helped,
in fact, to open for us the door of missionary opportunity in China.
And it is meet that we here also give due recognition to God’s provi-
dential guidance by mentioning that the very men whom He used to
direct and help us were in Hsiangcheng by reason of His special lead-
ing. To His blessed name be the honor and the glory! After our
choice of field had been made, careful negotiations with neighboring
missions soon led to an understanding between us and them as to the
territory our mission would be permitted to occupy.

Entering the Field.

In the autumn of the year 1906 we moved from Fancheng, Hupeh,
to Hsiichow, Honan, where we lived for more than a year as guests
of the China Inland Mission. Just as we were settling down in the
borrowed quarters at Hsiichow we had the joy of receiving the first
reenforcements. A deaconess, Miss Ingeborg Nystul, from St. Paul,
Minnesota, joined us in November, 1906.

The following spring we bought premises for our first mission
station, but almost a year’s time passed before we could occupy the
place. The former owner did not hurry to move out, and the neces-
sary repairs took several months. But in March, 1908, we took pos-
session of our new station and began work in whatever way we found
possible. The fact that we could begin at all gave us much satisfac-
tion. Our language studies had been interrupted frequently, and it
was but natural that any attempt at public speaking was made with
great diffidence. There had also been a great deal of delay about
getting possession of our station premises, but this is not to be won-
dered at as foreigners had never before bought real estate in the city.
Before buying, we wanted to see the property, but this could be done
only by moonhght. :

Gradual Growth.

When we had been but a month in the work at our new and only
station, at Hsiichow, Dr. C. P. Friberg and his family arrived from
America to join our small force of workers, and in the late autumn
of the same year, 1908, the Rev. A. E. Trued and his bride also ar-
rived. Shortly after these new workers came to the field steps were
THE STORY OF OUR MISSION 15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE PRESENT MISSION HOUSE AT HSUCHOW.

best we could of our cramped quarters, and by this time we have no
regrets about the buildings we failed to occupy. Now we have but
little interest in knowing whether that coffin still stands in the family
rooms as before, or has been transferred to that long sought for lucky
spot under the sod. Some years ago we bought a fine plot of ground
and erected station buildings in Honanfu.

Kiahsien.

During that same year, 1910, and also in the spring, while we were
gaining a foothold in the two cities mentioned above, we made an un-
successful attempt to open a station in the city of Kiahsien. After
considerable difficulty we managed to rent a few small and almost
tumble-down old buildings for a low rental. An old Christian teacher
was sent there to take charge of the new station. He soon found that
the owner of our leased premises was being persecuted for letting his
property to foreigners. He was taken to the yamen and beaten for
some other and unreal offense, but this frightened him so much that
he ran away from his home and kept in hiding until we voluntarily
14 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

While there we made some inquiries as to whether premises for a
mission station might be rented. Encouraging replies were received,
but nothing definite was reached on this first visit. On a second visit,
made some months later, we succeeded in renting quarters that were
fairly suitable for our purpose. A little later a Chinese evangelist
and a gatekeeper were put in charge of this new station. At the time
we had no foreign workers ready to settle down in Juchow to take
charge of the work.

Yiichow and Honanfu.

The following year marked further advance in our occupation of
the field. We secured an entrance into two important centers. The
thriving city of Yiichow, where the China Inland Mission had done
work as an outstation for a number of years, and the whole country
district governed by that city, were handed over to our mission. This
happened in the spring of the year 1910. Before the summer came
we also obtained a footing in Honanfu, where the Swedish Mission in
China has an old and prosperous work. This mission gave us a warm
welcome to come to Honanfu to share in the work of evangelizing that
large and populous center. In trying to lease premises there we
learned several things about Chinese customs. The people from whom
we rented some buildings gave a promise that some buildings would
be placed at our disposal before very long. An elderly father or
grandfather had died and the burial would have to take place before
we could have the use of those other buildings. Such reasons for de-
lay seemed perfectly valid to us, and we were willing enough to wait.
About three weeks later we made another visit in the city and then
rather took for granted that our use of the promised buildings would
not be delayed further. Then the former excuse was again given, as
that planned-for funeral was still a matter of some future date. I
ventured to ask when it would take place and was told that no one
knew. Then I could not but ask for the reason. The reply was that
certain wise experts would have to select a suitable burial place and
that this selection might require considerable time. But how long
ago did the venerable old grandfather pass away? I asked this ques-
tion and was told that he died several years ago. This opened my
eyes to the fact that one should not try to judge of things Chinese
according to foreign standards. We had to be content to make the
THE STORY OF OUR MISSION 17

 

More New Workers.

In the fall of the year 1910 another deaconess from Saint Paul
arrived on the field, and since then new workers have been coming
every vear. The year 1911 added one more to our force, while 1912
brought us five. The following year an equal number sailed from
the home land. The year 1914 broke previous records. One lady mis-
sionary of several years’ experience in China then came to us as the
wife of one of our workers, while our home Church sent out a force
of twelve. These additions to our working force have brought our
numerical strength up to thirty-two, missionaries’ wives included.

Further Growth.

Along with the numerical growth there has also been an extensive
growth. Of late years Paofeng has been added to our list of stations
where property is owned by our mission, and an outstation has been
opened in the city of Mihsien. Other places of importance are still
to be occupied, but as soon as our newly arrived workers have acquired
a sufficient command of the Chinese language further extension of
our lines will be possible.

The development of our work has also been characterized by growth
intensively. Foreign workers as well as their Chinese helpers have
carried on evangelistic work at our stations and in country villages
and hamlets.

Portions of the Scriptures and other books and tracts have been
sold broadcast as far as has been possible with our comparatively
small staff of workers.

Hospital work has been opened in Honanfu and Juchow and thous-
ands of patients treated annually, but the medical work has not been
restricted to the places where we are to have hospitals. A good deal
of dispensary work has been carried on even at other places.

Along educational lines some work has already been done and
more is being planned and prepared for. At four of our stations
school work is going on. A feature of special interest is our school
for the blind at Honanfu. A school for girls has recently been opened
at Kiahsien. At Hsiichow preparations are going on for the opening
of a Middle School, which will correspond nearly to our American
High Schools. In connection with this prospective school we shall

Our First Decade in China. 2.
16 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

vacated his premises in order to save him from trouble. In the mean-
time others were found who were willing to lease buildings to us, but
the hostile official made it impossible for us to gain possession of the
places that were promised. Our old teacher-evangelist went to the
vamen several times to make inquiries about the matter and if possible
to remonstrate with the mandarin, but his opportunity to meet the
mandarin was invariably put off on some pretext. Then it seems
that the old man’s patience gave way one day and that he expressed
some ideas that proved objectionable to those who heard him at the
yamen. Then at last he was taken to the official — but as a prisoner,
in heavy iron shackles. No punishment was administered, but our
man was accused of something practically equal to contempt of court
and sent back to Hsiichow as a prisoner under guard of two armed
soldiers. There remained nothing for us to do but to withdraw from
Kiahsien for the time being. But the following year another attempt
was made, and this time successfully. The Rev. A. E. Trued, who
in the meantime had moved to Juchow to take charge of the station
there, sueceeded in buying some very excellent premises for a mission
station in Kiahsien. When God’s time is at hand He proves that the
rage of the heathen offers but feeble resistance to His omnipotence.
Already we have good hopes of glorious harvests from the very field
which seemed so inaccessible in the beginning.

Firstfruils.

Another event of more than ordinary interest took place in the
spring of the year 1910. On the last Sunday in the month of May
our first baptismal service was held in Hsiichow. Only nine were re-
ceived into the Church of Christ at our oldest station that day, but
even the gathering in of those few made our hearts rejoice. The first
one to receive holy baptism in our little chapel that day was a gray-
haired old man of the same age as my own father. Sixty-seven long
years he had been outside the pale of Christ’s Church, without God,
hope, and peace. Among those baptized at this time were also two
elderly women. This first little ingathering on our China field was
made just as our Church in the home land was about to celebrate its
jubilee. No one at home knew then that the first half century of our
history as a Church also included the reaping of these firstfruits of
Christian Chinese. Out here we were glad to know that our first half-
decade in China had resulted in this little earnest of coming harvests.
 

we

i} ce
AN NR

SET EVER Lee Tes Tee Le ch 4

OUR FIELD.

UR field occupies an area of about 10,000 square miles in
the heait of Honan, one of the central and most populous
of China’s provinces. With an area slightly less than that

Sy of the State of Minnesota, Honan supports a population
more than ten times as large, or a little less than one-fourth of the
entire population of the United States. The average density of popu-
lation in the province is given at 520 per square mile. We shall better
understand what this means when we compare it with that of Minne-
sota, which is 22.1 per square mile (1900), while that of the entire
United States is placed at 31 per square mile.

 

 

 

HARVESTERS AND GLEANERS NEAR JUCHOW.
18 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

need a training school for Chinese helpers. This will be needed in
order to supplement and complete the work we are already doing in
the way of training the helpers that we now have.

Prospects,

China is undoubtedly a land with a future, if the gospel of Christ
is allowed to have sway here and to prove its regenerating power.
Therefore China is also a land of opportunity for the missionary.
And with the opportunity there goes the responsibility of the mis-
sionary and of the home Church. Although we are barely completing
our first decade on our China field, we have valid reasons for bright
hopes and good cheer. By repeated small harvests we have gathered
in some scores of baptized Christians and these, together with the few
hundred enquirers and catechumens that gather at our stations, give
us an earnest of vreater things to come. The future is surely big
with grand possibilities, but these will at best remain mere possibili-
ties unless the home Church exerts its best efforts toward their reali-
zation hy a ready and adequate response to the call of duty and oppor-
tunity. Such response will include not only the support of the work
at its present stage, but also the sending forth of several tens of new
workers. In order to occupy the field effectively and to care for it
properly a working staff of at least fifty missionaries will be needed.
Let us all pray that this needy field may soon have an adequate num-
ber of faithful sowers and that these may in due time bring in their
sheaves with joy. A. W. E.
OUR FIELD 21

 

and in the vicinity of Yiichow and Juchow one encounters ranges of
mountains. There are extensive coal deposits throughout the field,
and here and there mines are operated, but on a small scale owing to
lack of railroad transportation.

Agriculture.

The main occupation of the people here, as elsewhere in China, is
agriculture. It is surprising to see what the Chinese farmer can ac-
complish with the limited means at his disposal. By systems of irri-
gation, and by means of terraces on the hillsides, every parcel of
ground is utilized and made to produce abundantly, though this same
ground has been under cultivation for the last 3,000 years or more.

Products.

A great variety of products are raised. Among the cereals we might
mention wheat, barley, rice, millet, maize, buckwheat, and sesamum.
Of vegetables we find turnips, onions, beets, parsnips, cucumbers,
carrots, cabbage, egg plant, celery, spinach, lettuce, beans, peas, and
many other varieties not found in America. Of tubers there are sweet
potatoes, artichokes, also the ordinary potato, which has been intro-
duced by the missionaries. Fruits are especially plentiful, the chief
ones being pears, plums, apricots, peaches, apples, oranges, persim-
mons, cherries, strawberries, grapes, and so-called dates, grown on
the buckthorn tree. There are also walnuts, chestnuts, and peanuts
in abundance. Melons and squashes are very plentiful. Sugarcane
and broomcorn form an important element of the crops raised. Cot-
ton is cultivated and woven into cloth. The silk industry is a flour-
ishing one. Hemp is raised for rope and twine, but also for weaving
into coarse cloth.

A striking thing about the Chinese landscape is the abundance of
flowers and flowering shrubs. In the early spring the hillsides are
literally painted red with azaleas and apricot blossoms. Later come
the orchids and Easter lilies. Countless other varieties are found,
producing an effect which can best be described as ‘a riot of blos-
soms.” China indeed does credit to her name, the Flowery Kingdom.

Nature in China brings forth her bounteous store to gladden the
heart of man and provide for his needs. It is only in a spiritual sense
that this otherwise great land lies like a dreary waste. But even in
20 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

Population.

According to this estimate our field should have a population of
over 5,000,000, but owing to the mountainous districts the density
falls considerably below the average. A conservative estimate places
the population of our field at 3,000,000. This estimate is based on
the usual method of allowing 300,000 to each walled city with sur-
rounding district, of which there are ten on the field.

 

Mission Centers.

Honan was one of the last of the
provinces to submit to the peaceful in-
vasion of the mixsionaries. As late as
1890 the people resisted at the point
of the sword the efforts to establish
mission centers in their midst. Thanks
to the conquering power of the Gospel
there are now no less than 46 such
centers within the borders of the pro-
vince, representing some ten different
societies. Some of the missions ad-
joining ours are: on the north, across
the Yellow River, the Canadian Pres-

FRUIT VENDERS. byterian Mission; to the northwest,

with several workers stationed at

Honanfu, the Swedish Mission in China; to the southwest are the

Norwegian Lutheran Mission (Norway), and the Lutheran Brethren

Mission (American) ; to the south, the Ebenezer Mission: to the east

are the China Inland Mission, and the Southern Baptist Convention ;

to the southeast are the Lutheran Synod Mission (American), and
the American Lutheran Mission.

 

 

 

General Description.

The centers occupied by our mission are: Hstichow, Honanfu, Ju-
chow, Yiichow, Miahsien, and Paofeng, in the order of occupancy. Of
these only the first two have railway facilities; the others are
reached by traveling in ox-carts over roads hardly worthy of the name.
The country around Hsiichow is a level plain extending in every direc-
tion as far as the eye can see. As one travels westward the land rises,
 

 

 

THE RELIGIONS OF THE CHINESE.

| on earth. Evidently there is some secret in the domain of
Sedgeeul| Chinese domestic and political economy which makes for
national longevity. MJeligion plays an important part in
any nation’s life. A short study of the religions of the Chinese will
be interesting to our friends at home, and will give an idea of the
false beliefs and superstitions which must be overcome by the gospel
of salvation through Jesus Christ.

 

Ancient Beliefs.

In the beginning of China’s recorded civilization, about 3000 B. C.,
and even before that time, various instructors arose from among the
people. They taught there was “one who is great, exalted in the
highest,” who was “the Heaven Spirit who produced all things.” As
early as 2697 B. C. the ancient records of China tell us that the ruler
“erected a hall for the worship of the Sovereign on High, and calling
the whole populace together, diffused among them the principles of
religion and government.” The Sovereign on High was known to be
the God of goodness and righteousness. Speaking of the goodness of
God, the Canon of History has this to say: “Great is God, descending
in majesty, surveying all regions, seeking the repose of the populace.”
As to his righteousness, we read: “The majestic God has conferred
upon the people a moral sense to comply with which would give them
a right and constant spirit.” What wonder then, when the Chinese
scholars read of the God of Abraham, they say, “Why, this is very
much like our good old religion !”
22 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

this respect we have the firm assurance that God in due time shall
cause the desert to “blossom as a rose,” and the waste places to pro-
duce abundantly. Even now there are hopeful signs of spiritual
awakening. Dotting the vast expanse of this land are the mission
stations, like so many oases, from which flow the refreshing and life-
restoring fountains of God’s truth. May the time soon be at hand
when China as a nation shall be reclaimed from the desert of heathen-
dom and made over into a beautiful and fruitful kingdom of the
Christ. G. C.

 

 

 

A GROUP OF CIIINESE MISSION WORKERS. JUCHOW.
THE RELIGIONS OF THE CHINESE 25

 

This grand old religion passed away, and we now propose to discuss
briefly the five religions that are well established in China. They are:
the Confucian, Buddhist, Taoist, Mohammedan, and Christian.

Confucius.

Confucius (born 551 B. C.) was a man of great moral worth, living
in turbulent times, who took upon himself the task of universal reform.
He lived at the same time as the Hebrew Ezra, and like Ezra he felt
it his mission to rebuild national customs on the old foundations. He
appealed to men to sincerely practice filial piety, the duty of son to
father, of the living to the deceased ancestors. He believed if men
would but follow out his teachings order and harmony would be re-
stored and happiness attained. By forbidding ambition in his writings
he stopped the springs of progress and produced a stagnant civiliza-
tion. This great sage maintained that man was born good. Just as
the nature of fire is heat, the nature of iron hardness, so the nature
of man is benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, faithfulness.
Everything around him was proof of the falsity of this view, but he
never relaxed his faith in human goodness. This is one reason why
it is so difficult for the gospel to win converts among the Confucianists,
since they will not believe they are sinners. This doctrine of human
goodness reminds one of the modern preacher who gives long discourses
about the excellency of human nature. Confucius did not realize that
evil in the heart of man is a sore disease which can only be cured by
the aid of God through earnest prayer.

Ancestral Worship.

Ancestral worship is very closely connected with Confucianism.
The duty of the living to the deceased ancestors, as practiced in China
to-day, presents one of the greatest obstacles to the progress of Chris-
tianity, and therefore a few thoughts as to its beginning and to what
it implies are necessary. When this practice began in China it is
impossible to say. From the earliest records to the present time it
has undergone very little change. Affection and filial piety as well as
fear of the dead are the root of Ancestral worship. By sacrificing to
the ancestors, Chinese believe they preserve the integrity of the family
and clan. The very existence of the soul after death is believed to
 

 

 

 

Pagoda, just outside of Hstichow, supposed to protect the city from evil spirits.
It is about 150 feet high.

 

 

 

 

“Wen Chang Goa” temple, in which is the god of literature, who has charge of the
educated men of Hsiichow.
THE RELIGIONS OF THE CHINESE 27

 

and receive no harm. To arrive at it men must turn around and go
ba¢k and renounce their own power. It soon became corrupted into
a fantastic system of spirit worship. Intercourse with the dead as
well as divining by means of a study of the stars became a prevalent
practice. Taoism has become a great curse in China. The people are
led by the priests to spend their money on all sorts of schemes to ward
off the evil spirits. There is no connection between Laotze’s teachings
and the Taoism of to-day.

Buddhism.

Buddhism came from India. It teaches: 1) Existence is suffering;
2) Desire of existence is the origin of suffering; 3) The destruction
of this desire is the destruction of suffering; +) There is an eight-fold
path to the destruction of this desire. Believing that life on earth
was a failure, Buddha did not favor the formation of families by mar-
riage, but commended strict celibacy, vegetarianism, and beggary.
Salvation is deliverance from suffering, and after death, annihilation.

About 120 B. C. the Chinese emperor Wu Ti made war upon some
tribes beyond the western border of China, and captured a gilded
image of Buddha, more than ten feet high. This was set up in a
portion of the imperial palace and worshiped. This is the first re-
corded entrance of Buddhism into China. Ming Ti, a Chinese em-
peror, in 61 A. D., sent eighteen persons to northern India to bring
back Buddhist writings and teachings. After six years they returned
with many manuscripts, which were translated into Chinese. In 518
A. D. Buddhism spread very fast in China, 13,000 temples being
erected, in which many thousand monks lived. Afterwards Buddhism
was modified, the leaders feeling it was not practical enough for the
Chinese. A new Life of Buddha was written with incidents and say-
ings taken from the New Testament. One of the most remarkable
features of Buddhism in China to-day is its resemblance to Romanism.
It has its hermits, monks, vows of celibacy, voluntary poverty and
obedience, nunneries for women, rosary, incense, holy water, purga-
tory, masses for the dead, almsgiving, penances, and even a sort of
pope at Dalai Lama in Thibet.
26 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

depend upon the sacrifices offered by the living. In practically every
home are found Ancestral Tablets. These are considered mediums
through which the connection hetween the living and the dead is
effected. These tablets are usually mere pieces of wood on which the
names of the ancestors are written. The ceremonies of sacrificial
worship in the homes and at the graves have become a mechanical
custom with but little thought of anything further. This form of
worship is idolatrous, and a rival to the worship of the one supreme

 

 

GODS AT LUNGMEN, NEAR HONANFU.
(Cut from the solid rock. Compare size of men. The Chinese make extensive pilgrimages
to worship at this place.)

God. Ancestral worship needs to be spiritualized and transfigured
by the far more lofty conception of universal kinship through relation
to him in whom “every family in heaven and earth is named.” China
as a nation has almost forgotten the great first Ancestor. In the
worship of Him, Father of all, the Chinese instinct can alone find its
complete satisfaction.

Taoism,

Laotze, the founder of Taoism, was a contemporary of Confucius.
He taught the doctrine of Tao (Way), which is a system of rational-
ism. A vast, impersonal, chaotic first principle is regarded as the
parent of all things. Whosoever knows the principle will come to it
THE RELIGIONS OF THE CHINESE 29

 

tions, ancestor worship. The Roman Empire was superior to China
in civie virtue, but China is superior in domestic virtue. Possibly
St. Augustine found our heathen forefathers far less promising ma-
terial than we find these Chinese. As early as 1896 a great Chinese
viceroy wrote a book saying of Buddhism and Taoism, “They are both
worn out, and cannot last long, while the Western religion (the religion
of Christ) flourishes in China daily.”

After the Idols: What?

The idols of China cannot last long, and when they are gone what
will take their place? Shall it be gross materialism, or shall it be the
true religion of Jesus Christ? The number of those who pray to the
God of the Bible are daily on the increase. They need not sacrifice
any of the good teachings of their old, worn out religions by accepting
the true religion of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Let us hope
that Christianity will move forward to ultimate triumph among the
millions in China and on our field in particular. As you are watching
us through the messages we are sending to our friends at home, may
it prompt many zealous souls to pray to God that light may reach this
land of darkness. May the purifying, burning flame of missionary
zeal spread over our people. V. ELS.

Ney
y

Ac
28 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

Vohammedanism.

Mohammedanism was no doubt introduced into China at a very
early date. This was done by means of commercial intercourse be-
tween the Arabs and the Chinese. Chinese Mohammedan monu-
ments openly claim that Islam entered China as early as 586—601
A.D. In 713 A. D. the Arabs and the Chinese had a war, resulting
in defeat for the Chinese. This opened roads for the Mohammedan
doctrine. Islam teaches five duties and five cardinal points: 1) Ac-
ceptance of the formula, There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed
is his prophet; 2) Prayer; 3) Almsgiving; 4) The fast of Ramadan;
5) Pilgrimage to Mecca. The Koran, the Bible of the Mohammedan,
consists of 114 suras or chapters. It resembles in form the Psalter,
and is a strange mixture of sublime poetry, religious fervor, and wise
maxims with bombast, absurdities, and sensualities. It abounds in
contradictions.

Christianity.

Christianity, the perfect religion of God for the whole human race,
is the end of all religions, the final revelation of God to man. It
differs from the other religions in that it is the religion of incarnation ;
“The Word became flesh.” It saves from sin and death, and preaches
regeneration and sanctification. It is the most rational of all religions.
and is the religion of humanity. It entered China as early as the sixth
century, being introduced by Nestorians. Jesuit missionaries entered
China in 1579 and 1581. Protestant missions were led by Robert
Morrison in 1807.

“By their fruits ye shall know them.”

What are the fruits of the first four above mentioned religions in
China these thousands of years? Numberless temples, dingy and neg-
lected. In these temples are found idols, dusty, broken, portraying
hideous deities, expressing violent and angry passions. These gods
are made of sticks, straw, mud, wood, bronze, and stone, painted in
many colors. Another fruit is an army of ignorant priests engaged
in divining, and performing funeral ceremonies for gain.

From the above the reader will readily see, we missionaries are facing
the same situation that confronted the infant Church in the Roman
Empire. In both cases there were temples, gods, priests, supersti-
TEMPLES IN AND AROUND HSUCHOW 31

 

The “Wen Chang Goa.” In this temple the god of literature re-
sides. He has charge of the educated men of Hsiichow.

The “Shi Fu Tang.” In this temple Buddhistic women offer sacri-
fices,

The “Tze Swin Tang.” It is believed that this god gives all the
children their souls. If any of them die it is because this god wills
them to die, and then the god is often cursed for taking the little one
away.

The “Shang Sien Dien.” In this tem-
ple the people burn paper and incense,
afterwards eat the ashes, thinking it will
keep their bodies healthy, as well as cure
clisease,

SH ce

   

The “San Yuan Gwung,” or Three Em-
perors’ temple. The three gods in this
temple are supposed to be the Chinese
first parents. They are worshiped once a
year.

Country Temples.

The “Nung Shen Miao.” In this tem-
ple the mandarin and literati have cere-
monies once a year. The god in this tem-
ple is supposed to govern the farms and
agriculture of the district.

The “Tai Shan Miao.” This temple is
supposed to prosper Hsiichow and protect
its people. Once a year the people assem-  Pemttully Decorated Tomb Near
ble at this place, and for three days wor- (Erected in honor of a great man.)
ship this god.

The “Yoe Fi Miao.” This temple was erected in honor of a great
general. Tere also the people assemble once a year to burn incense.

The *Y Whang Miao,” or “Father of Heaven” temple. This god is
known as the “Gem Emperor.” He governs the wind and rain, as well
as all the other gods in the various temples in and around Hesiichow.

The “Wei Tang.” This god saves the people from difficulties and
sorrows. He is able to protect them from calamities.

The “Hsing Leiung Ran.” The god in this temple also governs the

 
 

eel”
WAN
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OR
w& Te
reed?
i ea

|

 

TEMPLES IN AND AROUND HSUCHOW.

: E read in the Acts of the Apostles that while Paul waited
NY at Athens, “his spirit was provoked within him as he beheld
S| the city full of idols.” An enumeration of the many heathen
xi temples in and around Hsiichow, a typical city of this part
of the country, will give the reader an idea of the situation that con-
fronts the missionary to-day, and will also tend to show that idol-
worship in China is by no means a thing of the past only, but is a
common everyday occurrence.
Cily Temples.

et

 

The Confucian temple is located in the heart of the city, and here
ceremonies are offered to China’s great sage. I had the opportunity
of attending one of these ceremonies, when the mandarin of Hsiichow
and other high officials bowed their heads to the ground in honor of
Confucius. The mandarin had ordered three oxen, twenty hogs,
twenty goats, twenty chickens, and forty fishes to be slain in honor
of the great sage. These together with many vegetables were scattered
throughout the temple.

The Military temple is located near the Confucian temple. Here
ceremonies are performed in honor of two great generals of China.

The “Cheng Whang” temple is supposed to have charge of the
spirits of the departed. Mere the Chinese assemble and burn paper
and incense in honor of the departed.

The “Whoa Shen” temple is the fire-god temple. This god is sup-
posed to have charge of the fires in and around Hsiichow.

The “Leiung Wang” temple is the water-god temple. The people
say this god gives the rain.
 

a
ha gtifa, gee by ifs, hy gee
YSIS PTY yey CT ERS ETS yy
So LE LD GLE GL GLY Gol GLY Gl Y GID
Smal Saal Slate Sl Syd? Sagal? Spd? Sule YN Ss

 

 

A SKETCH OF CHINESE LIFE.

N the central part of China in the province of Honan, there
is a city called Hsiichow. It has a population of about
40,000, and a large brick wall around it, about forty feet
high and twenty feet thick, having one large vate in each
direction. If one enters the city through the East gate, and walks
west-north, as the Chinese say, up a dirty, narrow street called Per-
petual Comfort, one comes to what used to be the home of Mr. Wang.

Mr. Wang was an official of the usual corrupt class that China can
boast of, who rob the people and receive bribes. He had four wives
and thirteen children. The eldest son was called Wu. They lved in
a very large compound with a high brick wall around it. Inside the
front gate was a waiting room where guests waited while the gate-
keeper brought in their cards, and to hear whether the master would
receive them or not. On either side of this room were servants’ quar-
ters. Passing through one sees a good-sized courtyard, having a num-
ber of flowers and a few large trees, with a long, narrow house both to
your right and to the left, facing each other, and one in the front,
facing the gate. This was the chief guest hall. Upon entering one
saw, opposite the door, a raised platform with two long leather cush-
ions, to sit and lie on, with a low table between. This was Mr. Wang’s
favorite retreat when smoking his opium pipe or gambling with friends.
A long mirror hung on the wall, with long scrolls of poetry on either
side, also the ancestral tablets. In the room were also two other carved
tables, with two chairs at each, highly varnished. The floor was of
stone, with an old oriental rug on it, and the windows, which faced
the front, were of paper. On each side of this room was a smaller
bedroom, having a bed with a high canopy over it. In one of these

 

Our First Decade in China. 8.
32 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

rain. If it is a very dry sea-
son the people assemble here
to pray this god for rain.

The “Ly Tzo Goa.” This
temple ix just west of the
city. It was built in honor
of a man who was said to be-
come a god after he died.

The “Tsao Tsao” temple.
Tsao Tsao was a famous gen-
eral who overthrew the Han
dynasty 250 A.D. This tem-
ple was built in honor of
him.

The “Sien Goa” temple
was erectel in honor of a girl
who—so the story goes —
lived many years without
food. She is considered a
goddess,

The “Tsai Swin’ temple
ONE OF THE FIERCEST Gops IN HsUcHow, W@S erected in fener ot a ean
(Supposed to have charge of the spirits of the departed.) Who was very faithful and

kind to his parents.

The “Niang Niang’” temple was erected in honor of a famous
woman.

The “Pi Shan” temple. The god in this temple is supposed to have
charge of the boils and eruptions of the skin. The Chinese take a
rooster with them to this temple, kneel down before the god, and pour
wine on the rooster’s head until he shakes it. Then they bow rever-
ently, and the ceremony is over.

From this list of temples one can draw the conclusion that these
people like the people of Athens of old are, in Paul’s words, “very
religious,” but sad to say the true Lord of heaven and earth is still to
a large extent “an unknown God” to them and needs to be set forth,
if they are to find Him and believe on Him. What are you doing to
make Him known among a people that yet “sit in darkness and the
shadow of death”? V. ELS.

 
A SKETCH OF CHINESE LIFE 35

 

Wu was six years old his father consulted a fortune teller to find a
lucky day for his boy to start school. When that day had been settled
upon, his hair was shaved off all around his head except a round spot
on the crown of his head, which was braided into one long braid. He
was given a little, black, silk skulleap with a red button on it. He also
wore a long silk gown like his father’s. As it was a cold winter day
the gown was lined with lambskin. He had nine other garments under
that, so he was almost as broad as he was long.

His father led him to school the first day. There he was presented
to the teacher, to whom he “kotowed” (knelt down, striking his fore-
head against the ground), and gave a present. Then he kneeled, and
burned incense before the tablet of Confucius. A desk, stool, pen and
ink were provided by his father.

His first lesson was one of Confucius’ sayings, “Men, at their birth,
are by nature good at bottom.” This was written on the last page of
his book, for the Chinese read backwards. Their hnes are not written
across the page, but up and
down. When the teacher had
taught him the sounds of the
words, he went to his seat,
shouting them over and over
as he heard the other pupils
do. When he thought he knew
the sentence thoroughly, he
went up to the teacher, laid
his book on the table, turned
his back to him, and recited
it, after which he received a
new one. In this way he re-
ceived his education. He
memorized several of the classics, but nothing as to the meaning was
explained to him, so he never understood what he learned. He was
also taught arithmetic, and to write characters.

He was a happy little fellow, fond of flying kites, and spinning tops,
and also, sad to say, of gambling. He was full of fun, but quieter than
the average American boy. Most of the excitement he had was during
the feast-days, especially the New Year’s holidays. These were looked
forward to for weeks, for then they would have vacation for a couple

 

 

 

A CHINESE LADY.
(Note the small feet.)
34 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

there was a large writing desk, a large old-fashioned clock, a long
mirror with carved frame, and several chests of clothes. Back of this
house was another open courtyard and houses built in the same style
as in the preceding one, and behind that still another.

Here, then, lived and
reigned AM[r. Wang. He was
usually clad in a long silk or
satin gown, reaching to his
ankles, with a long slit on
each side. His trousers, com-
ing down over his white mus-
lin socks, were bound around
his ankles with a silk band,
and he usually wore black
velvet slippers. His wives
wore  loose-fitting kimona
waists reaching to the knees,
and close-fitting trousers.

When Wang Shung Wu
was born there was great re-
joicing, as there always is in a Chinese home when a son is born. Invi-
tations to a feast were sent out, saving, “Come, the feast is now ready.”
Then they came bringing presents of all kinds,embroidered caps, silver
trinkets, money, pork, rice, etc. When Mr. Wang met them he didn’t
shake hands with them, but they each brought their own closed hands
together, made a low how, and, as they raised their bodies, also brought
their hands to their faces. Tea was served in the guest room, also
watermelon seeds, and sugar-cane.

When the food was brought in there was much ceremony in seating
the guests, each one insisting on taking the lowest seat, but in his
heart wishing for the highest. After they were seated, tiny cups of
wine were served, then the dessert, and afterwards the heavier coursex,
as meat-balls, pork, fish, rice, ete., which was all eaten with ivory chop-
sticks.

When the baby was one month old he was given the milk-name
“Dog” so as to fool the evil spirits that there was no baby in the
house,

Tt is the ambition of every home to bring up a scholar, so when little

 

 

 

PARTS OF HSSCHOW. TYPICAL DWELLINGS.
A SKETCH OF CHINESE LIFE 37

 

dress was an elaborately embroidered red silk. Her little embroidered
slippers were so tiny she could scarcely walk, and a big veil of heavy,
red cloth covered her whole face and head, hanging down over her
shoulders.

The street was full of inquisitive people, who followed them into
the courtyard, where the groom met her. They now “kotowed” to
each other, and then worshiped before the spirit tablets of the groom’s
ancestors, and “kotowed” to the house-god, after which they went into
the side bedroom, and seated themselves together on the ornamented
bed, or rather, they were seated by the jostling crowd, who had fol-
lowed them into the room. Those who could not get in, tore the paper
off the windows, so they could at least have a peep-hole. Now the
bride’s veil was removed, after which they drank wine out of the same
cup in silence. Now Wu saw her face for the first time! She, however,
could not see him, for she wax blind. Her face was also very badly
scarred from smallpox. Poor Wu was quite a disappointed boy. His
parents were very angry, and the bystanders made many unpleasant
remarks.

They proceeded, however, to comb her hair, for that is one of the
first things to be done after a woman is married. Prior to that time
it has hung down her back in one long braid, with red string coiled
around it close to the head, and another braided into the hair at the
bottom, hanging down in tassels about six inches longer than the braid.
While combing her hair they repeat a little charm, supposed to bring
her wealth. Now the bride’s boxes are opened and all her clothing
strewn out on the bed so all can see and admire; after which the feast-
ing began, which lasted four days. The guests brought presents of
various kinds, mostly money. During this time, Hsiang did not
mingle with the others, but stayed in the bedroom while Wu served
his guests.

Although he was now a married man, he kept on with his school
work as usual. A year passed, and, as he had no child, his father, who
was afraid he would not have any descendants to worship his spirit,
bargained for another wife. Wu was quite anxious now as to what
kind of a wife he should get, asx he could not love the first one, but had
a horrible antipathy for her, beat her on the slightest pretext, and
lashed her with his tongue. Mr. Wang, having again consulted a
fortune teller and decided upon a lucky day, sent for the next bride.
36 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

of months. Preparations were made to celebrate in great style. Every-
one must have new clothes made, and provisions must be bought to last
a couple of weeks, for the shops would all be closed. The houses were
given a thorough cleaning, and new door-gods were put up on the
front gate. These were two pictures of generals, each holding a sword.
These are supposed to keep the evil spirits out of the compound, but
in caxe some should get in, the houses always have a good draught so
they can pass through.

On New Year’s eve no one thinks of sleeping, but the night is spent
in burning firecrackers and skyrockets to scare away the evil spirits.
At midnight the ancestral tablets are worshiped, after which all go
out through the front door, and bow down toward a certain part of
the heavens and worship heaven and earth, and receive the spirit of
good luck. Now thev are very anxious, for the first word spoken to
them after this determines whether the vear is to be lucky or not: if
they are words of joy and prosperity, they are happy, and vice versa.
The next morning, very early, they dress up in their new clothes, and
go to congratulate their friends and wish them good luck. This day
the streets are full of people in their holiday attire. Theaters are held
on the porches of the temples, and there the people flock by the
thousands.

When Wu was ten years old his father sent a middle-man to a neigh-
boring city to find a bride for his son, of the same position, wealth,
and rank. If they were of the same city they might happen to see one
another, which would be a calamity. When everything was satisfac-
torily arranged, the parents exchanged what is called “The Eight Char-
acters,” that is, the year, month, day, and hour of the birth of the
youth and maiden, written on red paper. Presents were exchanged,
a written agreement made, and though they were but children, only
death could break their engagement.

When five years had passed, Mr. Wang thought it was time for his
son to marry, so, after the fortune teller had decided upon a lucky day,
a beautiful sedan chair, covered with a canopy of red and gold cloth,
and carried by four men, was sent to bring his betrothed. Wu’s bride
was the daughter of Li Yo Han, and lived some 60 li away, in the city
of Ling Sin, on Filial Piety Lane. Her name was Hsiang. Wu won-
dered a great deal what kind of a girl his wife would prove to be.
When her chair arrived, his sisters met her and escorted her in. Her
A SKETCH OF CHINESE LIFE 39

 

As his reputation had not been good, his favorite wife paid $2,000
to the priests to get his soul out of Hades.

As Mr. Wang had been an opium fiend and gambler, and had wasted
his substance in riotous living, there was no money left for the family,
so they must move out of their beautiful home. It was very hard for
poor Wu, who had never done anything in his life but study. He
hadn’t vet taken the examinations nor received a degree, so he could
not teach, except in the poorer families, where he would receive a
mere pittance, scarcely enough to support himself. He decided to go
into business, so on a certain lucky day he opened up a coal shop on
Thread and Needle Alley, put up a long, narrow sign-board, not
crosswise as is customary in America, but wp and down, with the two
characters, “Heavenly Ornament.” He lived with his wives in a
little, shabby mud-hovel in the court back of the shop. Some twenty
other families also lived in the
same compound. Now came hard
times.

The following spring, a little
daughter was born to each of his
wives; this alone was enough to
prove that the fortune teller he
had consulted didn’t know his
business. For some time the two
women had been going to a Budd-
hist temple and prayed for sons.
Wu himself went often to a
Taoist temple and prayed for
riches. They never prayed for CHINESE WOMEN MAKING BREAD.
forgiveness for their sins, nor for
help to overcome them, so they sank deeper into sin. After childbirth
it is customary for mothers to be in seclusion for thirty days, and dur-
ing this time the daughter of the blind Hsiang disappeared. She had
no doubt been drowned; but the daughter of the beautiful Gen Rai
was allowed to live, and she grew prettier every day.

When this little girl, Nyer, was five years old, her troubles began,
for then her feet must be bound. Her mother used long bandages to
wrap around her feet so they should never be able to grow any more,
for then she would not be considered respectable, nor would it be

 
38 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

Her name was Gen Rai and she
was the daughter of a well-to-do
farmer. She was a gentle, sweet-
faced girl with large, expressive,
brown eyes and raven hair. She
won the love and admiration of
her husband the moment he saw
her. She also was not disap-
pointed, for she thought him very
handsome.

Shortly after this event, Mr.
Wang, who had had consumption
for some years. suddenly became
seriously ill. <All his relatives
were quickly sent for. A doctor
was called in who, after feeling
his pulse, took out the largest
needle and pierced his head and
stomach in several places. Infec-
tion set in, and he suffered in-
tensely. When they saw he could not live, they hurriedly put on his
clothes that he was to be buried in. He died a few hours later.

Now the house was filled with loud wailing, lamentations, and cries
for his spirit to return. Candles were lighted, incense burned, and food
placed before the coffin, which he himself had bought some years be-
fore. Priests, both Taoist and Buddhist, were called to chant prayers.

They consulted the almanac to find a lucky day for burial. Then a
fortune teller was consulted to find a lucky place for burial. This
made it necessary for him to roam about the country for several days.

At last, a year after his death, the burial took place with great
pomp, so that the spirits in the unseen world would think he was
important and pay him the proper respect. In front of the proces-
sion men carried white boards with name and fictitious titles, en-
graved in blue and gold letters, also for the purpose of fooling the
spirits. Fifty hired mourners, dressed in white, wailed noisily. The
nearest relatives were dressed in sackcloth. The band plaved. Some
twenty men carried the coffin. A colored paper cart, horse, men, and
money, carried in the procession, were later burned at the grave.

 

CHINESE BRIDAL COSTUME.
 

 

 

VID TIO ARS-FESTEN DEN 21 OKTOBER 1915.

Gud, var Gud, ditt namn vi vilja sjunga!
Ty du stora ting med oss har gjort.
Infor dig vi samlats, 4ldre, unga;

ma ditt lof ibland oss vara stort.

Lat den festen, som i dag vi fira,
bli en dra for ditt helga namn;
da vi nu i minnets runor sira

tiodrig verksamhet i detta land.

Vi, som samlats har en liten skara,
ha skickats s4som Kristi sandebud,
att vi bland hednafolken skola vara
en hjalp, ett svar pa deras klagoljud.

De foérsta tva, som Kinas nédrop horde,

var pastor Edwins och hans unga brud.
Snart hit ock skeppen syster Nystul forde;
Hon ropet hort, och ville verka helt for Gud.

Ar efter 4r har Herren kallat flera,
Som slutit sig till denna kampahar;
att bedja och uppoffra mera,

samt vinna sjalar for vart korsbaner.

Blicka ned till oss ifran det hoga,
14t din ande sjalf ibland oss bo;

led oss med ditt hulda faderséga,
kom och for kineserna till tro.

Upplat har det helga ordets kalla,
att den rena, friska himlavag
miktigt ma ibland oss valla,
vederkvickande var sjal och hag.
40 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

 

Ss possible to get a husband for her.
Naturally she cried many a day
and night because of the -pain.

Ww’s business was very poor;
he worked bard, but was unable
to keep the wolf from the door.
Although he was a coal dealer he
was too poor to use coal, so the
children went out upon the high-
way and picked up dry leaves and
twigs to serve as fuel.

Poor blind Hsiang became very
despondent. She had been very
jealous of her rival, and one day
she committed suicide by taking opium. It was rather a relief to Wu
to hear that she was no more.

One day Nyer’s mother was called to our mission station to do some
work. While there she heard the story of Jesus, who came to earth
to save sinners. This touched her very much, though she could not
understand it all. When she came home, she told her little daughter,
and promised to take her along to the services. They now spoke of
little else but Jesus, and when Sunday came they put aside their work
and went to the services.

This was the beginning of a new life for them all. They became
happy, and confident that Jesus could help them if they but trusted
in Him. Gradually, as Wu went
singing to his work, the customers
began to come back; they seemed
to have a new confidence in him.
They asked him why he had
changed so, and he told them
what his hfe had been when he
depended on fortune tellers and
idols, and how, as soon as he be-
heved on Jesus and cast out the
idols, God had blessed him. Thus
he became a witness for Jesus,
and in his simple way led many
to believe on Him. E. Ss. SCENERY NEAR HONANFU.

 

 

AFTER SERVICES, HONANFU MISSION.

 

 
 

| hebsbshcrshdacrer

 

 

HURU EVANGELIUM BRINGAS TILL VARA KINESISKA
BRODER.

fi] Kina for att utfora. Sprakstudier, egendomskép, husbygge
9 och mycket annat, som faller pa var lott, tjana blott till
= att sitta oss bittre i stand att predika evangelium. Hvad
som i. Weiter i den nyanlandes hjarta, tir blott hur han skall kunna
meddela sig med kineserna, och allt som aren fly sin kos stegras be-
garet att battre kunna forsta dem, si att deras fortroende kan vinnas
och evangelium for dem effektivt predikas. Det ar ju naturligt att de
som uppoffra, bedja och arbeta for Kinas fralsning, vilja veta huru
missionérerna utfora sitt viktiga arbete.

De manniskor, som en utlinning forst kommer i beréring med, aro
tjinare. Dem maste man hafva i dsterlandet. Utaf kineserna sta de
oss nérmast. De se oss hvarje dag, mottaga vara befallningar, beddma
var vandel, veta hvad vi spisa och hur vi klada oss samt hvad vi hafva
i vara hus. Dessa tjanare tagas ratt ibland folket och aro riktiga
folkets representanter. [ar ha da missionarerna sina forsta tillfallen
att predika, mest genom vandel och fdredéme, och gifva tjiinarna in-
tryck af hvad Guds ord fran barndomen gjort for dem sjalfva. Har-
vidlag hander det dock ofta, att det brinnade begiret att predika
evangelium blir kraftigt afkyldt, och man far helt oférmodadt lust att
predika naigot annat. Men saddana erfarenheter hora till Guds fostran
och aro alldeles nédvandiga for att rensa slagget fran kirleken samt
lara oss att vara 6dmjuka och vanta all hjalp och framging fran Gud
allena.

Vid hvarje station hafva vi ett gastrum. Dar tillhandahallas nigra
koppar och en tekanna. Ofta hinder det att folk fran stad eller landt-

 
OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

 

Lat din nadesol bland folket varma
och fordrifva hedendomen svar.
Te dig, Herre god, ibland de arma;
byt den kalla vinter uti evig var.

Rensa, Herre, sjalf din egen loga;
ordets svard atskilje marg och ben.
I de fralsta sjalars tempel foga
genom Andens verkan sten vid sten.

Samla sjalar omkring korsets fana,
segertecknet i en stormig tid.

Led dem, Herre, fram pa segerns bana;
for dem genom kamp till evig frid.

Lat oss sist fa njuta himlens manna
i det land, dar sjalf du templet Ar.
Skrif det nya namnet pa var panna,
namnet, som den fralsta skaran bar.

Lat oss invid lifvets 4lf den klara

dricka djupt, nar jordens kamp 4r slut.

D4r vi prisa naden, underbara,

som oss evigt fort ur trangseln ut. das Re

 

 

 

 

REV. EDWINS AND REV.'TRUED WITH NATIVE WORKERS
(during Evangelist course at Juchow, 1915).
EVANGELIUM OCH VARA KINESISKA BRODER 45

 

sin mening eller friga efter nagot, sa dar gifvas alla méjliga anled-
ningar att tala.

Gastrummen aro ofta prydda med hvarjehanda taflor, tankesprak
och traktater. Den tafla, som finnes upphined i niistan alla giistrum,
handlar om den fdérlorade sonen och ir uppdelad i Atta scener. Den
forsta representerar fadern utskiftande agodelarna, den andra, huru
sonen ligger sitt tillhopa och far bort i frimmande land, den tredje,
hur han forstér sitt arf med skékor, den fjirde, hur han vaktar svin,
den femte, hur han atervander och blir mottagen, den sjatte, hur fa-
dern gifver honom nya klader, den sjunde, hur fadern gor gistabud,
den attonde, hur den aldre brodern knotar. Dessa planscher aro gjor-
da af en kines, och kinesiska hafva de sannerligen blifvit. Dessa man-
niskors inbillningsformaga ar stor, och det ar hogst intressant hora
hvilka ord evangelisterna ligga 1 faderns och den forlorade sonens
mun, di det predikas. Hvad som stiri senare delen af Lukas 15:de
ar icke nog. Ofta, da man kommer till gastrummet, finner man en
skara kineser staende i en halfcirkel med evangelisten i midten for-
klarande denna liknelse, under det alla nyfiket se pa planschen. En an-
nan intressant plansch fir den breda och den smala vagen. Den har om-
kring ett hundra hinvisningar till bibeln.

Pa ett nytt falt som virt ar litteraturspridning med det viktigaste.
Vi miste sa, om det skall blifva skord. Vi hafva icke pa langt niir nog
munnar ait predika, och darfor maste bibeln och allt som forklarar
densamma ut bland folket.

 

 

 

GUEST ROOM, JUCHOW MISSION STATION.
44 ‘ OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

 

ENTRANCE TO JUCHOW MISSION STATION.

bygd komma till stationen for att se hurudant det ser ut och hvad ut-
lanningarna aro for folk. Ofta komma folk forbi pa gatan och stiga
in for att hvila sig nagot litet. Alla sadana personer bjudas in i gist-
rummet, och portvakt eller evangelist hiller upp te 4t dem. De sitta
sig ned med ett leende och iiro si tacksamma och vanliga. Namtalet
kan bérja pa manga olika sitt. Har ar ett exempel: ‘Hvad ir edert
arade namn?” “Mitt ovirdiga namn ar Chang”, svaras det. “Hvar
bor ni, mr Chang?” “Jag bor vister om staden, 35 li, i en by som
heter Yang-lo.” “Jasi, i Yang-lo. Ar det férsta gingen ni kommer
till stationen?” “Ja, forsta gingen, men jag har hort att det ar sé
trefligt har, sa jag skulle komma och se.” “Har ni ingen mission i
Yang-lo?” “Nej, ingen mission.” “Hyvad iir edert yrke?” “Jag fr
farmare.” “Jasa, en farmare. Det ir ett godt och Aarligt arbete.
Manga sysselsitta sig med sidant som fr ondt, t. ex. silja opium,
starka drycker, gora afgudar, spa eller nagot sidant.” S& ledes sam-
talet in pa godt och ondt, om samvetet, som dfven talar om fér hed-
ningen, nar han syndar och gir honom olycklig samt viintande pi dom.
Sedan blir det naturligt att tala om Jesus, Frilsaren, som kom till
jorden for att radda fran synd och dom.

Nar mannen eller sallskapet (ofta aro de flera) hért pi en stund
och vill ga, inbjudes han att komma igen, sarskildt till gudstjinsterna.
Om nigon bok eller traktat vill képas, aro de till hands. Samtalet ar
olta langt ifran ensidigt. Gasterna taga ofta till ordet och lagga in
EVANGELIUM OCH VARA KINESISKA BRODER 47

 

nagon kristen i byn, dar marknaden halles, kan ett bord fa linas, som
bockerna lagegas pa.

De bécker, som siljas, iro af manga slag. Férst och frimst bland
dem dir bibeln, béckernas bok. Bibelsillskapen hafva sannerligen lyc-
kats bra uti att utgifva bibeln pa ett sitt, som limpar sig efter kine-
siska férhillanden. Ingen ar s& fattig utan att han kan skaffa sig
nigon del af bibeln. Den uppdelas och tryckes icke blott i gamla och
nya testamentet, utan i snart sagdt si manga delar, som det finnes
bécker i bibeln. Férsta Mosebok ar en nitt liten bok, som kan fas for
fem cash. Profeten Jona kostar tre cash, de olika evangelierna fem
cash stycket. Vill man ha stérre stil, gifvas nigra mer cash o. s. v.
Papperet, som begagnas, sirskildt omslagen, ‘iro af manga olika firger,
och de senare aro val utstyrda, si att de skola sli an pa skénhetssinnet.
Kineserna aro fortjusta i bjarta farger, och di man tar upp en hand
full med bibelns bocker, hvilkas omslag iiro af olika fangslande firger,
far man manga ogon riktade pa sig. Om man siiger: “Har aro fem
bécker for tjugofem cash, tva skalar mat kosta mer, fod ej blott din
kropp, utan afven din sjal”, hores nagon da of6rmodadt skratta till i
folkhopen. “Tjugofem cash for fem bocker”, siiger han héet for sig
sjalf. “Jag skall képa dem. Tjugofem cash betalar ju inte for pap-
peret.” Sa drager han fram ur barmen en trad med slantar pa, rak-
nar ut 25 och kommer fram till bordet. Sa fort en bérjar, sprider sig

 

 

 

THE MISSION TENT (from which books and tracts are sold). JUCHOW.
46 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPEL, JUCHOW MISSION STATION.

Det ar atskilliga forhallanden i det kinesiska samhallslifvet. som
gifver oss utmarkta tillfallen att sprida litteratur, och dessa aro mark-
nader och teatrar. Sadana finnas i hundratals i alla distrikt hvarje ar.
De hallas fran en till flera dagar under stérsta delen af aret. Evan-
gelisterna taga reda pa hvar de skola hallas och begifva sig dit med
bocker. En séndag kommo evangelisterna till mig och sade: “I mor-
gon ar dar en stor marknad i Lin-ro, 60 li harifran, sa vi maste ga i
dag efter gudstjansten fOr att hinna dit och vara fardiga.” Jag stod
nastan villradig, om jag skulle lata dem ga sa langt pa en sdndag,
men gaf slutligen mitt samtycke, och ivig foro de. Kineserna predika
sina religioner ocksa pa sidana marknader.

Var evangelist, om han ar ensam, skaflar sig ett stycke tyg tre eller
fyra fot i fyrkant, sveper in sina bocker och gar till marknaden. Dir
letar han ratt pa en folkrik plats, breder ut sin duk pa marken, ligger
ut béckerna i ordning, stiller sig vid sidan och sjunger en sang eller
borjar att tala for att tilldraga sig folkets uppmirksamhet. Nar
nigon af oss utlanningar kan ga med, blir det ju en riktig samling.
Men i alla fall samla sig snart nagra nyfikna for att se hvad han har
att siilja, och detta drager flera. Ibland kan man se en hel flock med
kvinnor, som slagit sig ned fér att hvila och hora pi. Tbland dem kan
han sti naéstan ensam. Men han kan ju inte heller halla pa att predika
i ett strick hela dagen. Jag har mer an en ging forvanat mig dfver
deras uthallighet. Aro de tva eller tre, bytas de om att tala. Finnes
EVANGELIUM OCH VARA KINESISKA BRODER 49

 

triffad. Dar aro alltid manga, som stupa, fastiin manga skott gf
miste. Sa ar det med vart arbete. Det skulle ju vara egendomligt,
om inte nagon skulle bli triffad. Dessa iro vi fardiga for. Vi hafva
klasser, dir de kunna f& undervisning. Vi bedja dem skaffa sig testa-
mente, singbok, katekes, och nagon dag i veckan fa de mottaga under-
visning. Det ar var dopkandidatklass. Dir komma vi folk narmare
pa lifvet. Lara vi salunda kinna dem, kunna vi skaffa dem bicker,
som lampa sig efter deras férhallande. Aro de icke fairdiga for den

 

 

 

TYPICAL CITY GATE SCENE, HONAN.

klassen, kunna de beséka gudstjinsterna, som hallas hvarje kvall, eller
komma nar som helst pa dagen till gistrummet for att hora mera.
Vart mal ar ju att undervisa, dépa och sedan organisera forsamling-
ar. Annu hafva vi inte organiserat nagon forsamling som dar hemma,
blott dépt; och si hafva vi gudstjinster och fira Herrens nattvard.
Vi forsdka fostra kineserna till ett ratt firande af séndagen, men det
tar tid. Séndagarna aro betydelsefulla dagar, di vi fa utfora mycket
arbete. Da predikas pa bade ett sitt och ett annat. Efter den all-
manna gudstjinsten hafva kvinnorna sin plats, barnen sin, dopkandi-
daterna sin, dar vi forsdka att komma dem nira med evangelium.
Sedan, vissa tider pa aret, hafva vi fester pa nagra dagar. Jag bor-
de kanske kalla dem skolor, ty det galler for dem, som komma, att lisa
och det med flit. De fa laxor i katekes och biblisk historia; dessa

Our First Decade in China. 4.
48 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA.

 

intresset som en l6peld. Sa manga komma och vilja képa, att predi-
kanten kan fa ratt bradtom en stund. Sedan nar de lamna, kommer
en annan skara, och det tager en stund, innan intresset blifvit upp-
arbetadt igen. Det hinder understundom att evangelisten miste séin-
da till stationen efter mer bicker, ty han hade icke tagit nog med sig.

Men hafva bibelsillskapen lyckats bra, hafva traktatsillskapen icke
‘ dess mindre. Snart sagdt all god kristlig litteratur kan kipas pa det
kinesiska spraket. Det finnes ett stort sallskap i Shanghai, som gor
intet annat an att bara utgifva och éfversitta alla mojliga goda bocker.
Utrymmet tillater mig icke har att ga i detalj, men tank hur intres-
sant det skulle vara for
eder att med egna dgon
se ett exemplar af alla
dessa olika bécker, trak-
tater, pamfletter, plan-
scher o. 3 vy. Ett exem-
pel miaste gifvas. Pa
grund af att det ar sa
svart for vara kristna och
andra intresserade i vart
arbete att komma ihag, nir det dr séndag, hafva traktatsillskapen fun-
nit pa att trycka en almanack i form af ett stort plakat med bade ut-
landsk saval som den gamla kinesiska kalendern pi. Séndagarna aro
sirskildt mirkta. Nagra portratt, bibelsprak eller ordsprak, de senare
i stora bokstafver, pryda plakatet. Dessa tryckas i viildiga upplagor
och siljas mycket billigt. De iro till stor nytta i arbetet. Det har till
och med handt, att nagra tegellass eller nagot annat bygenadsmaterial
komiit till stationen pai séndagen, ty de som korde visste inte det var
sondag. Tull sadana saga vi: “Nkaffen eder en kalender, och om I
kommen igen med material pa séndagen, taga vi inte emot det.” Detta
ar en kraftig predikan om séndagens betydelse som en hvilodag och om
vikten af att sérja for sjilens fralsning.

Ja, dir iiro skrifter, som passa alla slags manniskor, min, kvinnor
och barn, och som kunna mota alla invandningar och som kunna om-
kullkasta alla falska grunder, om Guds Ande annars ar med och verkar
1 manniskornas hjartan.

Nar vi nu kasta ut detta litteraturnat i hafvet, maste vi ju fanga
nagra fiskar. Gar man i krig, dir kulorna surra, kan man latt bli

 

 

Colporteurs on their way to neighboring villages. Juchow.
 

 

 

YUCHOW MISSIONSDISTRIKT.

UCHOW missionsdistrikt omfattar hela Yiichow county
med “Court of Justice” forlagd i Yiichow stad. Staden
ager ett invanareantal af 60,000 personer, forstiderna in-
beraknade. I staden finnas Ninas storsta “drug store’, ett
statens hogre allménna laroverk, ett stérre fingelse, ett tullhus m. m.
I distriktet finnas dessutom -L6 smastider, som ha fran ett till tre tusen
invanare 1 hvarje.

Naturen hair air mycket vacker, med héga berg och flera floder.
Distriktet ager ock flera kolgrufvor. Detta county riknar 40 engelska
mil i langd och 50 mil i bredd. Landtfolket bor ej] som i Amerika,

 

 

SSeS

 

 

 

ONE OF THE SIDE BUILDINGS AT JUCHOW.
(The Lindorff family temporarily used this building as a kitchen and dining room.)
50 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

forklaras pa for- och eftermiddag, under det att allman gudstjinst
halles pa kvillarna, di nagot praktiskt amne behandlax. Dessa méten
aro till stor nvtta, och ju mera vira nya arbetare fa fatt i spraket,
desto mera gediget arbete kan man géra. En eller tva behofva da icke
predika sig trotta, utan vi kunna komma tillsammans flera stycken
och géra en stor affar af sidana moten, ty vi kunna fa tillsammans
sadana, som aro villiga att lara.

Men dar aro annu tva sitt jag miste nimna. Det ena ar missionii-
rens enskilda moéten med sina evangclister, det andra, var evangelist-
kurs. Huru mycket utlanningen arbetar direkt bland folket, forslar
det icke mycket. Det &r som en droppe i halvet. Han maste finna pa
nagot saitt att multiplicera sin predikan. Detta sker i synnerhet vid
de privata métena. Det ar dir, som manga af bibelns djupa sanningar
maste inplanteras och vardas. Man maste ha nagra, som ha ett ratt
begrepp om kristendomen och som veta hur att rada, undervisa, for-
mana, varna och bestraffa i de tusentals fall som uppkomma. I den
lila kammaren kan man kanna det kinesiska folket pa pulsen. Dar
kan man vinna fortroende i den inre kretsen, sa att siga, si att man
ma veta hur att ga till vaga pi ett intelligent sitt. Det gar latt nog
att forvirfva sig ett slags allmant fortroende, men att lagga en god
och varaktig grund, som kan aga bestand, som tal att bygga pa och
som icke faller, da utlanningen lamnar, det ar icke sa latt. Men Gud
ar miktig, och skall den liggas, miste den liggas i det tysta och stilla.
Den spada plantan miaste vardas, gifvas tid att vixa och stirka sig.
Det ar vid dessa moten i synnerhet, som niussioniren har sin makt och
kan gora sitt basta arbete, da det giller att bringa evangelium till
folkets hjartan.

Det andra sattet ar var evangelistkurs. Den ar inte hvad den kan
bli, men vi aro obeskrifligt glada att vi kommit sa langt. Dir samlas
evangelisterna en manad fdr bibelstudinm, da det giller att studera
riktiet. Det blir en hvila fran det vanliga, en uppmuntran att komma
tillsammans och ett saétt att vinna kunskap, som ar si nédyiindig. Vi
vinta mycket af denna kurs i framtiden och hoppas att den skall blif-
ya en stor faktor i det evangeliska arhetet.

Gifve Gud oss manga kristliga main och kyinnor, som iifven hafva
formaga att undervisa andra! Och ma vi, hans tjinare, vara sadana,
att han kan gifva oss mera nad till ctt bittre arbete i den stora vin-
garden ! A. E. T.
YUCHOW MISSIONSDISTRIKT 53

 

nejd har nu under dessa tre aren utforts ett planmissigt och malmed-
vetet arbete. Dess olika grenar aro: evangelii forkunnelse, boksprid-
ning, sjukvard, skolundervisning samt nu i ar opiumasylverksamhet.
Alla dessa verksamhetsgrenar ha gjort sitt till att géra Guds ord kindt
ibland folket. Bécker ha salts till ett belopp af 175,000 cash (omkring
$58.33). Af sjuka ha behandlats omkring 3,000. Omkring 200 skol-
barn ha varit inskrifna. Déopta kristna aro nu 58 af olika samhiills-
klasser och stand. Nu ha de larda borjat nirma sig vart arbete; ett
tjugotal aro redan med oss. Dessa kunna bli till stor hjalp i arbetet,
nar de fatt néddig bibelkunskap. Dopkandidaterna fro nu omkring
ett hundra.

Missionens egendom.

Inom staden vid sédra storgatan har missionen en vacker egendom,
stor och rymlig. Husen aro nybyggda, ljusa, moderna och trefliga.
Att bygga hus i Kina ir en ganska talamodspréfvande sak, ty att lita
pa en infédd, da han ar lamnad at sig sjalf, dr vanskligt. Darfor far
man alltid ha dgonen pa honom, sa att han verkligen gor, hvad man
befallt honom. Tidens varde forstar han inte, och att forstéra nagra
dyrbara timmar med atande, skrattande och sofvande, det tror han ar
alldeles som det bor vara. Ar det kontraktarbete, far man se till, att

 

SCHOOL IN YUCHOW DURING SUMMER OF 1914.
52 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

 

 

 

 

 

MISSIONARY C. 0. A. SPHIRA AND HIS CHINESE ASSISTANTS IN YUCHOW.

spridda har och dir, utan i sma byalag. Sadana smabyar raknas 1
distriktet anda till 1,836.

Hela detta distrikt ager en folkmiingd af 450,000 personer. Det be-
tyder mer in ni kan tro. Tank Stockholm, Sveriges hufvudstad, har
en folkmingd af 382,085. Tank nu, en kyrka, en missionar pa ett sa
stort falt, med en s& stor befolkning! O, hvilka méjligheter att sprida
Guds ord, det enda fralsande och saliggérande ordet!

Dess tidigare historia.

I detta stora distrikt har varit missionsverksamhet nu i tio ar.
China Inland Mission éppnade forst stationen hiir, men 1910 ofvertogs
faltet af var mission. Wid mottagandet voro har fyra dépta samt tre
dopkandidater. Ar 1911 voro systrarna Ingeborg Nystul och Magda
Hallquist hir for en tre manader. De voro de forsta utlainningar, som
bott hiir. Under oroligheterna 1911—1912 forestods arbetet af en in-
fodd evangelist.

Olika verksamhelsqrenar.

Hésten 1912 den 15 november ankom jag till Yiichow, och har den-
na missionsstation sedan dess varit mig anfértrodd. Angaende arbetet
under denna tid vill jag lamna foljande uppgifter. I staden med om-
 

 

 

EN NY MISSIONARS ERFARENHETER.

EN nye missionirens erfarenheter aro af manga slag; vi
3 kunna hir blott gifva nigra drag. Da missionéren lamnar
Le oe os os . .
Teorey clen for honom kinda virlden och kommer till orienten, har
ea ° os . .
a Me han minga ganska oklara forestillningar med sig. Han

  

6
PS

 

 

finner mycket af intresse, och han sjalf ar icke desto mindre ett fére-
mal for nyfikenheten.

Hyad Kina som ett land betriffar, fann jag det 6fver all forvintan
skoént. Den stora slitten, 6fver hvilken Kinas jatteflod Yangtse flyter
fram, ar bérdig och vacker. Gud har gjort naturen lika skon i Kina
som 1 Amerika. Men ser man pa folket och deras arbete, gifves det en
forunderlig kontrast. Hvad skulle man ej kunna vinta af ett folk,
som bor i ett sa fruktbart land? Alen nu kinner det ej Gud, sin fral-
sare, utan lefver i synder och hjirtats och okunnighetens mérker, och,
som en féljd daraf i lattja, fattigdom och néd.

Man kan icke pa foérhand

 

ratt forestilla sig forhallan-
det 1 Kinas manga byar och
stider. Det trotsar all be-
skrifning. Gatorna, som ock-
si aro stadens kloaker, likna
mera stora gropar an gator.
Da stora regn fallit, kan man
icke komma fram pa dem
utan att fa smuts och vatten
upp i karran, da den sjunker
ned i de djupa bjulsparen.

 

 

 

 

. MISSIONARY M. B, HANSON.
Att vara vagfarande 1 The Dispensary under Construction. Juchow,.
54 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

det ej slarfvas, ty da skall arbetet ga sa fort som méjligt, for att for-
tjinsten skall bli si mycket storre. Ar det diremot dagsarbete, sd ar-
betas sa sakta som mojligt for att draga ut pa tiden. Ljuga och stjala
géra en del kineser s& fort som hastar springa. Dock gick det bra for
mig, ty de retade mig ej till vrede. Jag sade till dem, nar de kommo,
att den som ej gjorde som jag sade, han blef hemsiind. For éfrigt bad
jag Gud, att han skulle hjilpa; detta upprepade jag hvarje morgon,
och han hjalpte. Husens sammanlagda lingd ar 440 fot, bredd olika,
en del 16, andra 14 eller 12 fot.

Pastor Vikner med fru blir oss till stor hjélp; vi behofva dem, ty
vi ha nu éppnat tva utstationer i staden. En tredje éppnas, vill Gud,
nu i dagarna i en stad 32 mil nordvast om Ytichow. Medhjalpare aro:
sju evangelister, en lirarinna, tre portvaktare samt tre bibelkvinnor.
Fortroendet fér oss och missionen ir utmirkt godt 6fverallt bland fol-
ket. Ma& Gud f& skiérda en stor skérd i Yiichow-distriktet! Detta
vare vart mal! Edert mal! Mot detta mal vilja vi med férenad styr-
ka upplyfta vara blickar! Latom oss verka, “medan dagen ar, natten
kommer, da ingen kan verka.” C.0. ALS.
EN NY MISSIONiIRS ERFARENHETER 57

 

som redskap dro fa och enkla. Kinesen bar alltid sin nasduk med sig;
den far tjana saval till kladesborste som till dammtrase; i den biir han
penningar till marknaden och agg, brod eller grénsaker, da han gar
darifran ; och med den torkar han icke blott ansiktet, utan afven dfriga
‘delar af kroppen samt sina atpinnar, tekoppen m. m.

Det forsta jamte sprakstudierna, som en ny missionar miste vinn-
ligga sig om, ar att lira kinna folket. En eller annan af de mera
fornima i staden torde komma och afligga besok hos honom, och han
kan afven blifva bjuden att beséka den arade gistens hem. Vid sidana
tillfallen far han 6fva sig att ata med pinnar och lata de ratter, som
sittas fram for honom,
smaka sig. Bristande far-
dighet att anvinda kine-
sisk etikett saval som
spraket gor dessa artig-
hetsbevisningar f6r mis-
sioniren mindre_ efter-
sdkta.

Skall han lyckas 1 sitt
blifvande arbete, maste we
han komma i annu nar-
mare beréring med kine-
serna. Vi Augustana-synodens missionirer hafva fatt gora var forsta
bekantskap med den arbetande klassen. Ifrain den fa vi vara tjinare
och handtverkare. Man kommer snart i nira beréring med dem och
far lara kinna deras lynnen och karaktirsdrag. Man kommer ut
till Kina som missionaér fdr att undervisa folket, men pi samma
ging man bérjar dirmed, finner man sig sjalf vara en skolpilt, skul-
le man ock hafva tagit en extra missionskurs dirhemma. Missio-
naren finner snart, att han icke blott behéfver veta hur att predika
samt hjalpa de sjuka, utan afven att skaffa egendom, bygga hus,
skolor, kyrkor och lasarett. [an miaste vara med och leda allt och
kainna till allt. Han behéfver evangelister och andra medarbetare ;
dem miaste han fostra. Dopkandidaterna skola undervisas, de unga
maste fostras och de kristna tagas vard om. Allt ar nytt och under
andra forhallanden och bland ett annat folk an dairhemma.

Att ratt forst& och bemota kineserna ar fdr missionaren ett ratt svart
problem. S& kan t. ex. hans tjanare den ena dagen vara sé duktig och

 

 

 

 

 

A CHINESE HOTEL AND ITS PROPRIETOR.
56 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIFFERENT MODES OF TRAVELING IN CHINA.

Kina har sina erfarenheter med sig, som hvar for sig skulle vara nog
att fylla ett helt kapitel. Vigar och gator i Kina blifva som en regel
aldrig lagade. Slakten efter slikten hafva trefvat sig fram bast de
kunnat. Dar de inte komma fram pa vigarna, kora de in pa akrarna,
ty fram maste de. Finnes manne en mera traffande bild pa kinesens
religiosa stillning? Han foljer faderna troget i sparen utan att veta
hvart det bir.

Man blir forvanad, dai man ser hur kineserna lefva. Deras hus, 1
stad som pa land, aro, med f4 undantag, af jord med halm- eller tegel-
tak. Inne i dessa hyddor fr det sotigt, dammigt, smutsigt, mérkt och
osundt. I de formognares hem ar det nigot bittre, men afven for dessa
synes renlighet icke vara af mycken vikt. Deras husgeridssaker saval
 

 

 

GREETINGS FROM NATIVE EVANGELISTS.

Honorable Lutheran Mother Chureh in America;

Holy and Beloved Brethren and Sisters in the Lord: Greetings!

Of old the many people of this ancient country, suppressed by the
devil, have gone astray like lost sheep. Confucianism, Buddhism, Tao-
ism cannot save us, nor deliver us from the power of Satan, nor bring
us to the knowledge of God. But in love God sent His Son, who denied
Himself, and paid the ransom for all our sins. His Spirit has moved
the hearts of your people to come and preach the Gospel in this land.
Trusting in the redemption of Christ, we believe in the regeneration,
through baptism, by the Holy Ghost.

We thank God for your zealous love. Although we cannot meet you
on earth, we have the hope of eternal life, when we may join hands with
all the ransomed ones. Glory be to God!

Honanfu, Honan, China. Fu Hsine Hwa,

(Translated. ) Teacher in the Blind School.

To the Mother Church in America;

Pastors, Teachers, Brethren and Sisters in Christ: Peace!

Although unworthy, I have, by the grace of God, been permitted
to serve in the Church over two years. I recall the time when I was
an unbeliever and lived in all manner of sins. At that time I did
not know God’s law nor the vastness of his grace, and how could I
know that after death there would be judgment? While still alive,
I was dead in trespasses and sins. I thank God for his grace, and I
know that he will not cast out any who come to him. By the Holy
58 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

bra 1 sitt arbete, att han ar beredd pa att dka hans lon, nasta dag dar-
emot kan tjinaren godra honom si missmodig, att han skulle helst af
allt vilja skicka bort honom. Kinesen ar nimligen mycket diplomatisk
och falsk i sitt upptradande, da han dirmed tror sig kunna vinna for-
delar. Bland andra svagheter ar kinesens lattja, girighet och ofér-
synthet 1 é6gonen fallande. Det synes vara ytterst fa kineser, som aro
rattframma. Sa t. ex. kan man finna under byggnadsarbete, att de
mura krokigt, men i stillet for att bekinna sitt fel borjar kinesen att
sitta skulden pa antingen en, som murat dir forut, eller pa ett tegel
langre ner pi muren, och till slut, om han icke har nagot annat att
skjuta skulden pa, siiger han: ‘Det miste vara tegelstenarna, som aro
sneda.”

En annan erfarenhet, som den nye missioniren far gira, ar att finna
hur svart det ar att kunna tala och predika pa kinesiska. Men ju forr
man borjar dirmed och ju mer man 6fvar sig, desto lyckligare ar man.
Man kinner sig hemma aéfven i Kina, da man finner det arbete, som
man iir kallad att utfora. Hur kart ar det icke att fa sitta bland de
smi i sdndagsskolan; de iro mycket mera mottagliga for intryck an
de iildre. Matte Guds Ande genom ordet fa géra lifs- och evighets-
intryck pa deras hjirtan!

Kinescrna behéfva myeken hjilp och mera barmhirtighet, an vi aro
i tillfalle att gifva dem. De behdfva vart arbete och vara forbdner, de
behéfva hjalp och ledning, men hvad de mest af allt behéfva ar Guds
Ande, som allena formir att foda dem pa nytt och tillampa Guds ord
till fralsning.

Hjalpen oss, kira vanner, att bedja mycket och att arbeta fhtigt, att
manga kineser ma blifva omvinda! Vart arbete ar ett hoppfullt ar-
bete. “Fortréttens icke att gora det goda!” M. B. H.

 
GREETINGS FROM NATIVE EVANGELISTS 61

 

att vara evangelii budbarare. Det ar sorgligt, att vi skola vara sa
ytterst svaga och otacksamma mot Gud for hans frilsande nid. Men
vi bedja hemkyrkans alla pastorer och bréder att mycket bedja fdr oss,
att Gud ma rikligen utgjuta sin Helige Ande och hjalpa sina barn,
rena hjirtat, aftva synden och gifva oss kraft samt viltalighet att af-
ligga manga goda vittnesbérd och leda manniskor till honom, sa att
var himmelske Fader far dra.

Juchow-forsamlingens bréder halsa eder, frid!
De ringa bréderna:

Guo SUI,

Liu Bine CHane,

Guo SIU SHAN,

Su Kine SING,

Kiy Tsien San, lyfta pa mossan.
Vi bedja vinligen om var halsning till hemférsamlingens alla bro-

der och systrar.

Kinas republiks fjarde ar, femte manad, sextonde dag.

(Ofversittning fran kinesiskan.)

Obs. “Sin-I-Huei” betyder egentligen “genom tron rattfardig for-
samlingen” och ir namnet pa den lutherska kyrkan 1 Kina.

 

 

Evangelist Wy Yii Ruan with Wife, Mother, and Mother-in-law.
Honanfu.
60 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

 

 

 

OUR FIVE EVANGELISTS IN JUCHOW.

Spirit, I have come to know the redemption of Jesus Christ, and have
hope of eternal life.

If Jesus Christ had not commanded his followers to go into all the
world and preach the Gospel, who would have come to China? If
Christ had not given us a new commandment to love one another,
would the missionaries leave their native country to come to this
distant land with the gospel of love, through which we are all made
one in Christ ?

Should we not rejoice in the finished work of the cross? O, that
we may always pray, “Thy kingdom come!” This is my earnest hope.

Greetings,
Honanfu, Honan, China. Wu Yii Ruan,
(Translated. ) Native Evangelist.

“Sin-J-Huei” till Augustana-synodens pastorer, bréder, frid!

Ma Guds Ande stidse vara med eder! Amen.

Vi undertecknade, som kommo till tron blott tva eller tre Ar sedan,
hvilkas tro 4nnu ej ir stadfastad, syndens rot ej annu fullkomligt ut-
rotad och den gamla manniskan ej annu fullkomlet afklidd, hafva
dock af Gud blifvit bevisade obeskrifligt stor nad,.i det han sindt oss
 

 

 

WHAT CAN WE DO FOR THE WOMEN ON OUR FIELD ?

< | T IS often amusing to notice how Chinese women first of

all look at the feet of their lady visitors. By the size of
their feet the women of this land have been valued for cen-
turies. Perhaps those tiny feet are the first to attract the
attention of the new missionary, as the native woman of China comes
tripping along the road. The sight fills our heart with sadness and
sympathy. Christian love, however, has taught us to look away from
the bodily defects, and think instead of the precious soul hidden within
the mortal frame. A soul for whom Christ suffered and died. We
know also about the power His resurrection has reserved for that
soul to live a Christ-like life on earth. We not only see what they are,
but also remember what they, by God’s grace, can be. Truly:

  

“Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried which grace can restore ;
Touched by a loving hand, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.”

Chinese women have exercised a great deal of power in the home
during the centuries of the past, though suffering from the foot-bind-
ing and handicapped by ignorance. Their minds are dull from misuse,
but intellectually they are not stupid. From beneath the crust of
ignorance and gross superstition in which they have been born and
bred we get a glimpse, at times, of their character. Responsive as they
are to Christian teachings, what a power for good will they not be
when they come under the moulding influence of the gospel! One
lady who has travelled a great deal in the Orient has given this testi-
mony concerning the Chinese women: “Of all Oriental women I love
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs. A. E. Trued and Sister Ingeborg Teaching the Catechism to Women at Juchow.
THE WOMEN ON OUR FIELD 65

 

derful power in the gospel to save, to keep, and to renew. Jf this is
only clear to us then petty trials cannot lay us low.

Apart from the regular devotional services, classes have been con-
ducted from time to time, at most of our stations, teaching the women
inquirers to read and to understand the precious gospel truths. Those
who have really taken a stand for Christ need also to be followed up
in their homes. They need our prayer and sympathy and a lot of
shepherding after they have become Christians, tempted as they are
amidst their heathen surroundings. Thus visits to their homes be-
come a necessity. Many who live in distant villages are not able to
come into the mission station more than once in a great while, thus
village work and itinerating become necessary.

It is when going out into the villages and staying in their homes
that we learn to know them best, and get an idea of their home life.
It is then too that we can have heart to heart talks with them and
in some little measure share their burdens and trials, and prove a help
to them in their spiritual life. This work is very interesting provided
we look for the silver lining behind the cloud. Again, we must seek
for something more vital than crippled feet and worn faces in which
sin has put its mark. We must also ignore the dirt, cobwebs, rats,
ete., in these homes, and instead think of the value of one single
human soul.

When surrounded by a group of wrinkled old women, sad faced
daughters-in-law, and bright little girls, eagerly listening to the good
tidings or, some of them, even trying to learn to read, we forget our
difficulties. Our hearts throb with joy when the first eager question
is raised, or the first prayer stammered. And if, one by one, they
give up their idols and fall at the Saviour’s feet, what a reason for
thanksgiving! May we not look forward to a day when the women
in the land of Sinim shall have found the place which Mary loved so
well? In truth, a new day is coming when they shall have an oppor-
tunity of choosing the better part which no one shall take from them.

A great number of women on our field are yet waiting for us to
bring them God’s message. They are not consciously waiting, but is not
their very need an appeal and a call for us to come to their rescue?
There is yet so much work to be done; this is merely the beginning.
The harvest indeed is great, and the laborers few. Lord of the Harvest,
endow thy laborers with power, and send even new workers into thy
needy field ! LN.

Our First Decade in China. 5.
64 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

the Chinese best; they have so much character and are so womanly.”
A missionary who had labored a lifetime in China said regarding the
women: ‘Morally they are China’s ‘better half? — modest, graceful,
attractive.” God has bestowed upon these women gifts and abilities
which will be sources of blessing if led in the right channels. On the
other hand, their influence may be just as great a power for evil if
they are not won for God. Should we not swiftly and joyfully bring
them the message of peace and love? God’s
plan of working is to use you and me, dear
reader, ax tools in His hand to bring about
His cause. We must patiently win the
lost ones back to Him, telling of His love
which is stronger than death, and He will
supply our strength.

It is true the Chinese women are re-
sponsive to Christian teachings. How
well does not the writer of these lines re-
call a cold, stormy winter night, 1907,
while visiting some neighboring mission-
aries. One of those dear women, who had
learned to love Christ, came into the room
so quietly at midnight and felt of the win-
dows if they were closed; then she began
carefully to tuck the occupant of the
room snugly into hed, tenderly as any
mother. She thought she was unnoticed,
‘A Chinese Girl of the Higher Class, and went as quietly as she had come. It

was hard to express one’s heartfelt thanks,
in those days when unable to use the language, but the touching act
of kindness to the stranger, by that Chinese woman, shall not be for-
gotten. “I could not sleep when thinking of her who had left home
and dear ones, not knowing our language; she could not even tell us
if she was cold,” was the explanation this woman afterwards gave.
Does not this reveal to us one of those chords which the Lord Jesus
had put into vibration ?

As I look back over the past experience on the mission field it would
not be the truth to state that the work among the women always is
encouraging. But we must always keep in mind that there is a won-

 
CHINESE METHODS OF HEALING 67

 

and roots form a large part of their Materia Medica. Mercury and
also a number of different salts, such as soda, borax, etc. can be had
in a crude form. In addition to these, the medicine shops also carry
a good display of old bones, tiger skins, monkey skeletons, turtle and
tortoise shells, deer horns, teeth of animals, bugs, beetles, etc.

When a patient comes to see the doctor, the latter usually diagnoses
the disease by feeling the patient’s pulse. A Chinese doctor requires
the patient to rest hands and forearms on a table. He then places
three fingers on each wrist, and each finger has its own story to tell
concerning the different organs of the body. This “science” is very
complicated and takes upwards of two years to learn. No wonder
that the foreign doctor is looked at with suspicion and contempt when
he fails to pay at least 90% of his attention to the feeling of the pulse.

Treatment.

The most common treatment prescribed is piercing with needles.
The medical books contain charts which indicate the thousand or more
places on the human body where the needle can be inserted without
killing the patient. That the punctures are not always made according
to the spots on the chart can be testified to by any physician of ex-
perience in Chinese methods. Numerous cases of blood poison or
inflammation, caused by these needles, are received at mission hospi-
tals and dispensaries, often requiring amputation in order to save the
patient’s life.

I have a neighbor who suffered from sore eyes. They were in a bad
condition, but he could see. He went to see a doctor who stabbed both
of his eyes, and now he is blind.

One case that in a special way aroused our sympathy was that of a
girl, thirteen or fourteen years old. The parents came with her one
day declaring ber stomach was one hard lump. Her whole attitude
was one of intense suffering. Some weeks before she had been sutter-
ing from pains in the abdomen. They called a doctor, who prescribed
stabbing with needles. Examination proved she had been stabbed in
the umbilicus and a cord, fully three inches long, inserted, with in-
structions that it should not be removed. We removed the cord, how-
ever, and a clean dressing was applied. The parents remained with
her two weeks, but the child seemed to be rapidly failing. Calling
the mother aside one day, we told her we did not think her daughter
 

 

 

CHINESE METHODS OF HEALING.

“science” enough to get a comprehensive view of the same,
not only a thorough knowledge of the language is necessary,
but a thorough acquaintance with the Chinese character as
well. Conscious of the lack of these requirements, we shall try to
sketch in a brief and simple way what information we have been able
to gather from our Chinese friends, also citing a few cases treated by
Chinese doctors, which have come to our personal knowledge.

Chinese history relates that about two thousand years ago there
lived a doctor known throughout the land for his knowledge and his
skill in curing by operation. Stories of the famous doctor reached the
emperor, who desired an interview and sent for the man. Among
other things the doctor stated that if a man’s brain were diseased he
could open the skull, remove the brain, wash it in a medical solution
and replace it, thereby curing the patient. This the emperor declared
impossible, ordered that the doctor should be put to death, and all
his books confiscated and burned.

“He was the only good doctor China ever had,” said a Chinese
gentleman when questioned on the subject. “All our present doctors
who have not studied Western methods are bad. They know nothing
about the anatomy of the body, and when a patient comes to them
for treatment they make a guess, but they have no method by which
they can diagnose a disease.”

; <=) ] N order to delve into the mysteries of Chinese medical
ae

 

Medicines.
Chinese medical books contain nothing about anatomy, physiology,
nor about symptoms and diagnosis of disease. The books contain the
names of drugs, and give information as to what they cure. Herbs
CHINESE METHODS OF HEALING 69

 

Another superstitious belief among the people, but which the medi-
cal books do not teach, is that when someone is executed, if they drink
the blood or take the heart, liver, etc., prepare and eat them, they will
receive the strength and vitality possessed by the one executed.

What we have here said concerning the Chinese methods of healing
will tend to show that there is a great field for usefulness for the
medical missionary in China. It is our earnest prayer that our need
of recruits in this line of work will plead its cause to responsive hearts,
and that many of our young men and women, even though you may
be the only child your mothers have, may be willing to respond to our
prayer for help. H. E.
68 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

could live much longer, and we believed it was best to take her home.
“T know she’s going to die soon,” said the mother, “but she is our
baby, the only one we have, and we stayed to please her. She likes
to stay here, and you have been so good to her. She likes to listen
to what you say here, and she likes to look at the flowers. Will you
give her a root of one when we go?”

Another pitiful case was a woman suffering from creeping paralysis.
She described her sickness as a loss of appetite and a general feeling
of weakness. The doctor told her she had “chi”, implying some for-
eign substance in the body, which must have an outlet. Stabbing with
needles would bring the desired results; and she had from time to
time submitted. On her right arm and on the right side of her back
alone, most of them along the spine, twenty scars were counted. Her
whole body had been stabbed that way, and judging by her history, the
paralysis was a result of the treatment she had received.

One of our own men. brought his grandson one day, a baby less than
a year old, saying the baby suffered from flatulence, and was unable
to eat. Unfastening the baby’s clothing we noticed two dark blisters
on his abdomen. “What is this, Mr. Ma?” “Burns,” was the reply.
“Have you been to see a Chinese doctor?” “You weren’t home, the
bahy was sick, so what should I do. He said that if he were stabbed
with a needle and then seared, the baby would be cured, but he is
getting worse.” “Haven’t you heard us explain how wrong and how
dangerous it is to practice with the needles that way? I don’t think
the baby can lve many days more by the way it looks, and the in-
tense pain he suffers now is evidently caused by an infection of the
bowels.” “It is all pus now, it wasn’t so bad before. I know our doc-
tors are all the devil’s servants and use his ways, but what should I
do? There was no one here to help me, and I thought the doctor
might do so.”

Corrupt and fraudulent practices are common among the Chinese
doctors. If a man comes to them, suffering from some small sore or
slight eruption of the skin, and they think he is wealthy, they apply
something of a corrosive nature to cause a large sore. If the man
comes back, which he nearly always will do, the doctor sets his price
for curing him. The man, anxious to be cured, will pay the sum, when
the doctor will apply something to counteract the first medicine, and
heal the sore in a very short time.
EN LAKARES TILLFALLE ATT PREDIKA 71

 

staden. Vi sdka ju ocksa att siga nagra ord till de enskilda vid be-
handlingen, att vacka deras slumrande samveten. En del synas vara
liksom beredda att emottaga vitinesbérdet om sanningen. De siga:
“Vi ha icke hort om, eller haft annat in afgudarna.” Sa fa de ga till
sina afligsna hem. Manga, som kunna lisa, eller ha sliktingar, som
kunna lisa, eller om i byn finnes nagon, som kan lisa, fa med sig ett
exemplar af nya testamentet. Skall brédet aterfinnas i sinom tid? Ja,
Guds dyrbara léften gilla afven vart falt.

Forutom muhammedaner — men afven bland dem finnas manga
undantag — ar det helt fa, som siiga nagot emot, eller med ord for-
svara sitt elinde. Muhammeda-
nerna siga ofta: “Vi kanna ocksa
Herren; vi dyrka ej afgudar; var
lara ar lika med eder.” Utan om-
svep siga vi dem, att deras lara
ar falsk, och manniskobud, att ej
nagon af dem viander sig fran
synden. En gammal man, sjuttio-
fem ar, har och skagg hvitt, kom
i dag och bad om medicin for sin
son, som var sinnessvag. Han bor
endast omkring fyra engelska mil
fran Honanfu, men hade aldrig
hort evangelium forr. Arme man, Des G, Ps Feibere, and. Family: 1208.
han var sa val bevandrad i Confucii skrifter och hade sé manga ord-
sprak till hands. Laisa kunde gubben, och det utan glaségon. Ibland
annat slogo vi upp, och han fick lisa, Joh. 3: 16, 17. O, att vi finge
mera kérlek till Herren och de dyrkopta sjalarna !

Ja, hemmen i Kina! O, hvilka hem! I, medlemmar af kristna
hem, det ar eder plikt och formin att f& vara med och skapa kristna
hem i Kina! Jag vill némna ett par exempel. Jag minnes en bok om
missionen i Indien med titeln: “Things as They Are”; sa afven fran
vart falt. For ej lange sedan kom en tulltjinsteman till oss. Han
hade en “abscess” i ena foten. Han var snyget kinesiskt kladd, men
med utlindsk hatt. Hans andra hustru var med; hon ar omkring
trettio ar, och var kladd i finaste silke. Mannen ar niira sextio. Han
fick nu tillfalle att hora Guds ord och medforde ett nya testamente
till sitt hem. Men var van har det besvirligt. Hans forsta hustru

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

EN LAKARES TILLFALLE ATT PREDIKA EVANGELIUM.

z _ fE manga sjuka vi mott, vill jag likna vid en strém, som ar
4»
prmene

full af syndens orenlighet. Blott nagra fa af dessa hafva
: eo blifvit dépta och lefva ett heligt if. Ledsamt nog ha nagra
Xe af dessa dépta aterigen fattat karlek till varlden. Men,
Herren Jesu namn vare prisadt, nagra af vara dopta hafva 6dfver-
yunnit; och vi tro, de ha fatt ga in i den eviga gladjen. Vi vilja nu,
ehuru ej utan bifvan, omtala nagot fran vart arbete ibland de sjuka,
i ljuset af Pred. 11: 1, “Sand ditt bréd 6fver vattnet, ty 1 tidens
langd far du det tillbaka.”

Det har frojdat mitt hjirta att med de sjuka och deras vanner, som
foljt med dem, samlas till morgonbon i kapellet. Antalet varierar
ju, men ofta ar det frin femtio till hundra personer. Vi bedja, lisa
ett kapitel i var bibel och tala nagot daréfver samt afsluta med bon.
Da vi sedan behandla de sjuka, talar nagon evangelist till sidana sju-
ka, som under tiden komma och gi. Skall ordet, som dessa manga fa
hora, och de manga nya testamenten, delar af bibeln, katekeser, och
traktater vi salt, hvilka medforas till langt afligsna byar och hem, ej
i sinom tid bara frukt? “Sand ditt brod dfver vattnet, ty i tidens
langd far du det tillbaka.”

Det ar sairskildt i dispenseriet, i hemmen, och 1 hospitalet vid be-
handlingen af de sjuka, som stanna har, vi fa blicka in nagot 1 denna
stréms orenlighet. Skall Herren f& fostra oss, att vi bli passande red-
skap att féra det vatten till dessa dyrképta sjilar, om hvilket det
heter, “och allt far lif, dar strommen kommer”? I dispenseriet lisa
vi ofta, di vi behandla sjuka, nagot Guds ord ur Luk. 15; Joh. 3;
Apg. +: 12: 17: 30; Rom. 6: 23; Upp. 22: 14, 15, hvarest det star
att inga afgudadyrkare fa ing genom portarna till den himmelska

 
EN LAKARES TILLFALLE ATT PREDIKA 73

 

kade med honom litet medicin, men huru det sedan har blifvit, har
jag ej hort.

Men det var nagot om var vins mottaglighet for evangelium jag
ville beratta. Prisadt vare Herrens namn, ibland dessa millioner lég-
nare, tjufvar och mammonsdyrkare tro vi, att Herren har manga, som
skola riddas, och darfor fortréttas vi icke. Alltnog, han mottog ordets
trést; och jag tror hans ibland tarfyllda dgon skola en gang fa skada
Lammet. Han sade, att da han kom hem skulle han utkasta afeudar-
na. Hans son, som var hir och hjilpte sin emellan fyratio- och fem-
tiodrige fader, var en férhoppningsfull, rddlett ung man. I mr Wangs
by bor en af vara kristna elever fran blindskolan. Denne har forut
haft rykte om sig att vittna for Herren. Bada aro nu hemma; och
vi hoppas var elev far bli ett redskap
att framstilla for mr Wang Guds
vag.

En annan patients, en alskig ung
mans, historia ha vi gladjen att in-
fora. Var unge viin heter Kao. Hvad
sorg och lidande betraffar, har han
och hans bror fatt genomlefva mycket.
Fader, moder, fyra yngre bréder och
hustrun till nu lefvande yngste bro-
dern blefvo ihjalslagna af réfvare i
juni manad 1914. Sedan, kort efter-
at, dog hans tio manader gamla barn.
Rofvarna, ett hundra min till antalet,
kommo mellan kl. sju och atta pa
kvillen, ledsagade af byns eget folk.
Aldre brodern var ej} hemma; han var soldat. Mr Kao raddade sig
genom att hoppa i en sdtpotatiskillare. Han tordes sedan ej stanna
hemma, och blef darfor, afven han, soldat. Vid ett tillfalle, da de
voro ute efter réfvarna, blef han illa sarad. Da han kom till oss, var
han dartill si mager, att han nastan liknade ett skelett. Men sma-
ningom blef han battre. Ifran bédrjan af hans vistelse hos oss fattade
han, att det var endast genom Jesus han kunde blifva bra, om det
var si hans nadiga vilja. Ett djupt behof synes hafva blifvit vackt
hos honom. Vi ha latit bara honom till vara gudstjanster. Vid ett
tillfalle blef han si uppviirmd, att han hogt sade, det var genom Her-

 

MR. KAO.
72 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

fodde ingen son. Enligt god ton skall en andra hustru sdkas eller
kopas. Denna fédde honom ej heller nagon son. Nu blir denna i sin
tur en kalla till forargelse, hvilket ju ocks& traffar den férsta hustrun.
Var tullman har skaffat sig en tredje hustru. Da jag var pa sjukbe-
sdk i hans hem, gick han efter sitt nya testamente, han kdpt, och visa-
de mig. Skall brédet aterfinnas i sinom tid?

En ung man, fyra engelska mil norr om var stad, héll pa att bli
lefvande begrafven, emedan han syndat
mot sjatte budet. Det slutade med att
man medelst en sax fordarfvade hans
bada égon. Stackars man, han led myc-
ket. Man fragade oss, om vi kunde bota
hans dgon. Vi erbjodo oss att sdka fa
ned svullnaden och lindra smiartan, hvil-
ket lyckades. Lidandet hade 6dmjukat
hans hjarta. Han sérjde mycket och ville
garna hora trostens ord. Hans manga
slaktingar och vinner hade ocksa tillfalle
fa hora, att det finnes forlatelse, om vi
vilja emottaga den.

En af orenligheterna i denna strém ar
falskheten. O, hvilken falskhet! Alltid ha de skal for sin ursékt. Da
de vilja gi hem, siga de sa ofta, att det finnes ingen, som ser efter
hemmet. Hvad skola vi méota denna falskhet med? Sanningen; och
med att lata sanningen helga vara hjartan. Vi skulle kunna nimna
om slagsmal, och tagande af gift, som ofta forekomma i denna orena
strom. Men det finnes ocksa andra sjilar. Missionar Berg kallar dem,
“priktigt landtfolk”. Vi ha ofta liknat dem vid korneliisjilar. Ett
par sadanas historia vilja vi i korthet omnaimna.

Mr Wang har sitt hem ofver femtio mil fran Honanfu. I Honan-
fus vistra forstad var han med och grafde en brunn. Han foll ned
och skadade vanstra fotleden. Den man, han arbetade for, lait bira
honom till oss, och gaf honom mat for en tid. Da vi forst behandlade
mr Wang, fruktade vi forblodning fran de stora blodadror, som ska-
dats i fallet, men saret borjade likas mer och mer, och det sag ut
som om den illa tilltygade fotleden och benet skulle likas, sa att han
kunde gi. Men si kom den kinesiska hemlingtan en dag. O, att
vara kineser finge hemlingtan till det himmelska hemmet! Jag skic-

 

 

MR. WANG.
 

 

 

NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES OF OUR MEDICAL MISSION
WORK.

Y]} HINA has no knowledge of hygiene, dentistry, or surgery,

f and no quarantine regulations. Smallpox, plague, and
Cx 7 cholera patients go about as they please. There is no pre-
vention of the spread of tuberculosis. The value of light
and air is not known. Deaths due to the ignorance of diseases must
be great in number. Life insurance companies in the United States
find that 630,000 persons die annually of preventable diseases. In
China the number must be several millions. The economic waste from
preventable diseases in the United States is $500,000,000 yearly. In
China it must be billions. By preventing disease and teaching the
Chinese how to take care of themselves, our hospitals will certainly
do much good.

That China is awakening to the needs of medical education is
quite evident. Two years ago there were eight medical schools. Since
then the number has nearly doubled. The president of China expressed
his appreciation of the work the medical missionaries are doing as
follows: “We are very grateful for your charitable services, especially
for your work in the interior, where the importance of sanitary prin-
ciples is comparatively unknown. For the country to be strong and
prosperous it is essential for its citizens to be healthy. It is due to
you that sanitary principles are now spreading throughout the land.
I am glad of this opportunity to tender my personal thanks, and I
hope that you will continue in the future, as in the past, thus adding
to the glory of your reputation and strengthening the bonds of friend-
ship between your countries and ours.”

The main purpose of a mission hospital is evangelistic work, and

 
74 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

ren han blifvit sa stark. .\fven brodern, som kan lisa, har blifvit pa-
verkad af sanningen.

Innan jag slutar, vill jag siga nagot om dnnu en klass patienter;
de, som komma nar det ar ute med all mansklig hjalp. Jag minnes
icke nagon, som kommit och velat stanna och ej blifvit tillaten. Vi
bruka saga till slaktingarna: sé langt vi kunna se, kan denne ej lefva.
Ha de velat stanna hos oss, ha de fatt det. Om de velat gA, si ha de
fatt det. Annu ha vi ej haft nigra besvirligheter harutaf. Vi ha
tankt sa har: till den sjuke fa vi siga, att hos Herren finnes nad och
mycken forlatelse; och slaktingar och vanner ha afven fatt tillfalle
att hora.

Vid slutet af dessa korta anforanden vilja vi friga: gifves det till-
falle for en liakare att sprida evangelii kunskap? Hvem ar hartill
duglig? Skall var korta teckning falla i handerna pa nagon, som vill
siga: “Herre, har ar jag, sind mig!” “Sand ditt brod 6fver vattnet,
ty i tidens lingd far du det tillbaka.” C. P. F.

 

 

 

NEW DISPENSARY AT JUCHOW.
OUR MEDICAL MISSION WORK 77

 

these villages from which the patients come to our dispensary in a
single morning.” In the Juchow district we have three times as many
villages on an area one-tenth as large; but we have very few patients
compared with Dr. Archer, who would have as many as a thousand
a day.

Hospital Needed.

We have to send away a great number of patients because we have
no hospital to put them in. How soon shall we get this, a much needed
structure? If we cannot treat the patients when they come, they
return in their misery without any help. Some patients come as far
as 75 miles. It is the surgical work which is most effective among the
Chinese. They don’t understand how to take medicines: They think
a big dose of medicine ought to cure. Why they should take small
doses for some time is a mystery to them. It will take a long time to
teach them to use drugs in the proper way; while a surgical operation
is something wonderful to them. A single successful case will double
our influence among the people.

We have now a very good dispensary, a building 20x60 ft. in size,
containing a chapel, where the patients are taught the gospel while
waiting their turn for treatment; consultation room; dressing room;
drug room; operating room; sterilization laboratory; and dark rooms.
But in doing surgical work one needs ward buildings, which we do not
have. Shall we have to put up temporary buildings while waiting for
that comparatively small sum of $12,000 for a hospital? Some hos-
pitals in America cost a million dollars, in which it costs $16,000 to
house one patient.

Real Economy.

The cost of maintaining our hospital would be $2 to $5 a day. From
$1.50 to $2.50 a month will pay for the salary of a nurse, dispensary-
boy, or evangelist. Six cents a day will maintain a bed. Most of the
patients paying for their own food, $15 will pay for a bed and its
equipment: bedstead, native mattress, four sheets, two suits of hospital
clothes, two pillow-covers, one pillow, two native-made comforters,
one pair blankets, four towels, one stand. If we used more money we
could make our hospitals more efficient. This is what President C. W.
Elliot says:

“An immediate and large improvement of the medical service ren-
76 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA.

 

it is in that capacity accomplishing a great deal in China; not only
im opening up the missionary work in a new field, but it is doing a
great deal of good as a permanent organization. This is what the
Continuation Committee resolved: “Medical missionaries are to be
regarded, not simply as an expedient for opening the way for, and ex-
tending the influence of the gospel, but as an integral, coordinate and
permanent part of the missionary work of the Christian church and ax
continuing the work of our Lord in the double capacity of healer and
teacher.”

 

 

 

 

DISPENSARY HELPERS AT JUCHOW.

Our field is about 10,000 sq. miles with a population of about three
millions. Juchow district alone is about 1,200 sq. miles and has not less
than 1,190 towns and villages, with a population of about 423,000.
Just think, if we were to supply this district with physicians in the
same proportion as at home, one to each 600 persons, it would take
more than six hundred doctors! What an opportunity for evangelistic
and medical work we have!

Dr. Archer of India speaks of his work there as follows: “One of
the first advantages that the hospital has over the other branches of
mission work is that it touches intimately large masses of people, who
frequently come from long distances. These patients come to us from
more than three hundred different villages, usually within a radius
of 75 miles. It would take a missionary a year to go the rounds of
 

 

 

PRESENT ASPECTS OF OUR EDUCATIONAL WORK.

anaes] ITE great hope of the Church in China as in other lands is
Fel ‘ to win the children. History proves that the most effective
ISAs (EIR) way to do this in heathen lands is by means of the mission
bee's schools, which have proven to be very effective evangelistic
agencies.

Up to the present our mission in China has been able to do but very
little in this line of work, owing largely to lack of sufficient workers
and financial means. As the prosperity of the mission depends largely
on the success of its schools, these should receive the hearty support
of every Christian.

The following extracts from letters received from our workers will
give a general idea as to the present status of our school work, as well
as a brief history of what has been accomplished in the past.

  
  

Hsiichow.

Our first school was opened in Hsiichow by Rev. A. W. Edwins in
the fall of 1909. He writes: “We made no effort to begin work of
that kind, but some persons came and asked us if we could not open
a school, as they had some pupils to send us. Not many came the first
term, but the number grew gradually until it reached about twenty.
The teacher put in charge of the school was a capable man, but pos-
sessed little or no knowledge of the ‘New Learning,’ such as geography,
arithmetic, physiology, etc. Had the teacher been better qualified
for teaching, and I for superintending, the school might have proved
a marked success, as there seemed to be no difficulty in securing pupils.
But as it was, our curriculum was too incomplete and the methods of
instruction not sufficiently modern. The school quarters were also
78 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

dered in China could be made by the expenditure of more money in
the hospitals and dispensaries already established. They all need to be
equipped with every tool and piece of apparatus which experience has
shown to be serviceable. Money can satisfy all these needs. The
physicians are overworked and are distressed by the constant sight of
suffering, which they have not the means of relieving, and by the
numerous failures of the treatments they administer, and the opera-
tions they perform, — failures due to unsanitary conditions of the
hospitals.”

Dr. Archer of India speaks of the dispensary as follows: “I know
of no place so useful for disposing of Christian literature as the dis-
pensary of a medical mission.” But most missionaries admit that not
many conversions are made from dispensary preaching. It, on the
other hand, gives us a chance to get acquainted with the people, and
overcome their prejudice. It is a form of seed-sowing. The hospital
gives a better opportunity of imparting a more extensive knowledge of
the Scriptures. It is in the hospital we see real conversions. The
patients stay there long enough to hear the gospel from different
angles, and to get a somewhat complete story of the plan of salvation.
While convalescing, they are allowed to read the Bible, having a copy
by their bedside continually.

More Physicians.

Another important thing we need is two or more physicians. The
work cannot go on uninterruptedly unless we have two physicians at
each hospital. The China Inland Mission, one of China’s oldest mis-
sions, does not allow its doctors to work alone. We can certainly fol-
low their example with profit. Too often one of the doctors has to go
to some other station to visit some sick missionary. We have over 30
missionaries to look after at present, located at six different places.
Some are on the mountain 250 miles away, too far to get medical at-
tention in time. We surely all agree that the medical work is an im-
portant part of mission activity. We are only following the method
that Christ gave us of healing and teaching. When the people come
to have their bodies healed they receive something far more important,
healing for the soul.

We feel grateful to you for the means you have given, Remember
us in your prayers, that this part of the Lord’s work may go forward!

O. W. L.
OUR EDUCATIONAL WORK 81

 

unsuitable and the equipment very deficient. On account of our in-
experience and general unpreparedness the school could not very well
be placed on a proper footing.”

The year 1911, while Rev. and Mrs. Edwins were in America on
furlough, it became necessary to dismiss the teacher on account of bad
conduct. Another teacher was secured, but the revolution, which at
that time compelled the missionaries to flee from their stations, also
compelled them to close the school.

A Second Attempt.

“In the spring of 1915 another little school was begun. During the
time of famine that then prevailed some starved and sick young boys
were found and brought to the mission station. When they had recoy-
ered health and strength it seemed heartless for us to send them away,
so we started a school where these poor and otherwise idle boys might
learn something that could make their lives more happy and useful.
Some few boys who were not in real poverty also came. The total
number grew to be about a dozen or more.”

The teacher in charge of this school was left practically without any
help and direction from the missionary, Rev. Edwins being in Honanfu
the greater part of the time supervising the building and other work
there. In the fall of 1914 Rev. Edwins took charge of the language
school work on Chikungshan, making it possible to make only occa-
sional visits to Hstichow. As the teacher in charge of the school put
very little energy into the work it became necessary to disband the
school and remove the pupils to our other schools.

Valuable Lessons.

“These two almost involuntary experiments in school work,” as
Rev. Edwins says, “have, however, brought home to us some lessons.
The first is, that one should not begin school work before one is ready
for it. This means that there should be a competent and well qualified
teacher ; that the school should have adequate equipment and a definite
curriculum. In the second place, some foreigner should have constant
supervision over the school work and, if possible, take part in the in-
struction as well as in conducting regular examinations.”

Our First Decade in China. 6.
 

 

 

 

MR. SPHIRA WITH \ SCHOOL OF BOYS AT YUCHOW.
OUR EDUCATIONAL WORK 83

 

the boys have become honest inquirers as to the claims of Christ, and
that the school has been of much blessing and help to the work in
Hsiichow in that it has opened homes that were otherwise inaccessible.

Fonanfu.

In Honanfu, during the years 1910, 1911, Dr. C. P. Friberg con-
ducted a boarding school for boys, the total number being about 18.
In the spring of 1915 the school was closed owing to sickness. Last
March Rev. J. W. Lindbeck opened a boys’ day school within the city.
He says: “The school has an enrolment of 25 boys. One teacher is in
charge of the school, besides the little time I am giving to it. With
this school we are reaching the city and street boys.

“At Hwei Gwoa Djen, 85 li from Honanfu, we have opened another
school. Here we have 28 boys of which all but three or four go home
for their meals or bring their dinners. A few boys in the village, who
have to work during the day, come in the evening for instruction.
Through this school the country boy is reached, and it has done a great
deal to break down the prejudices in the minds of the people.”

Juchow.

In Juchow the school work was begun by Rev. and Mrs. Trued.
Quoting from Rey. Trued’s letter: “A little school was opened a few
years ago with about ten boys. The teacher was fairly good and bright,
and hopes were entertained for a successful future; but the revolution
broke out and the teacher, who was from another province, had to
leave. Another teacher was engaged who proved unsuccessful, and
then another with the same result. ‘This caused the school to lose its
reputation and no more pupils enrolled. This lack of success was due
to lack of foreign supervision; both school and evangelistic work had
to be left to itself for long intervals.

“At the same time as the boys’ school was begun, a few girls were
gathered for a few exercises daily, but they also had to be neglected
later. In spite of these reverses two of these girls are now taking
their third year in a girls’ school at Sin Yang Chow, and several of
the original boys are in our higher grade school in Juchow at the pres-
ent time. It might here be mentioned that a class of six girls in
Hsiichow received three months of instruction in the spring of 1912,
and that one of these girls, also one from Yiichow, was sent to Sin
Yang Chow together with the two girls from Juchow.
82 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

English Evening School.

Jan. 20th this year (1915), an English Evening School was opened
by Rev. V. E. Swenson, who says in regard to the same: “The condi-
tion for entrance in this school is, that the boys shall come at seven
o’clock and attend the services every evening before the opening of the
school. I have had from 10 to 20 boys attending. Most of the boys
have been of the better class as they are the only ones that would be
interested in English.

 

 

REY. VY. E. SWENSON’S ENGLISH SCHOOL AT HSUCHOW.

“The first class studies the Chinese and English New Testament.
The other classes have studied books issued by the Commercial Press.
The boys are asked to read, write, and spell English. Some of the
boys have brilliant intellects and would compare very favorably with
the students in our own educational institutions at home.

“The principal reason for opening a school in the English is, not so
much to teach them English, as to come in touch with the better class
of Chinese. Christ died, not only for the beggars in rags, but He also
wishes His gospel to become a power among the really influential
classes of Chinese society.”

Rev. Swenson also says that he has reasons to believe that two of
OUR EDUCATIONAL WORK 85

 

Kahsien.

January 18, this year, a
girls’ boarding school was
opened in Kiahsien. For this
school we were fortunate in
securing a trained and compe-
tent lady teacher. This school,
having at present an enrolment
of ten pupils, is the only girls’
school in Kiahsien and commu-
nities round about for a dis-
tance of 65 li. The girls pay
for their books, a small tuition fee, and board. Only two of the girls
now in school are supported by the mission. The school, though small,
is yet fulfilling its mission. Two girls have of their own accord un-
bound their feet — even discarded their earrings. One Mohammedan
girl takes her noonday meal here; the first Mohammedan in Kiahsien
to thus humble and defile herself. A Sunday-school has also been
organized, the day pupils attending.

Since last year the Central China Christian Educational Union cur-
riculum has been used in all our schools. The examination questions
are issued annually by the Union Examiners, and thus examination

 

 

GIRLS’ SCHOOL AT KIAHSIEN,

 

 

 

PUPILS AND TEACHERS OF THE SCHOOLS IN JUCHOW.
84 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

Reorganization.

In the autumn of 1914 a reorganization of all the work at Juchow
was made. The school was moved to our new premises in Dong Gwan
(East Suburb) and two teachers have been engaged. One of these
has a modern college education, and the other, although somewhat of
the old school, is nevertheless of high standing. The school is divided
into a lower and higher primary grade. Twenty-eight boys are attend-
ing. The subjects taught are: Chris-
tianity, Chinese Language, Eng-
lish, Geography, Arithmetic, Algebra,
Sciences, ete. After school the boys
get a good course in Military Drill for
exercise. After a seven years’ course
they are ready for High School.

 

Country Schools.

“Outside of the station, in the
country, eight schools have been
opened this year. This is more or less
of an experiment, and nothing definite
can be stated as yet as to their success.
These schools are located from 5 to 40
li distant from the station. The total
enrolment is 160. The teachers of
these schools come to the station one Saturday each month for in-
struction in Christianity and other subjects which they teach.”

 

 

 

 

Military Drill. School Boys at Juchow.

Yiichow.

In the autumn of 1913 Mr. C. O. A. Sphira opened a boys’ school in
Yiichow. This school later developed into two schools. Mr. Sphira
writes: “Some of the boys have been attending all four terms. Others
have left the school, while new ones have been admitted. Altogether
about 200 boys have enrolled.” Last January a girls’ day school was
also opened. Thus there are now three schools in Yiichow.
 

 

 

 

BOYS’ SCHOOL FOR BLIND.

]T has been said that if China is to become Christian it will
be largely through the instrumentality of those who to-day
are dependent children — the orphans. Hardly dare we say
this about China’s blind, and yet we feel assured that in the
measure that their dull, hopeless lives become filled with the hight of
our Lord and Master, they also in the way opportunity is offered shall
become just so many witnesses to the gospel’s power to bless them.

 

The Plight of the Blind.

If anyone’s life is miserable, surely that of the little blind, yellow-
skinned, slant-eyed boy or girl in China is so. To be despised, scoffed
at as “blind dog”, and in many instances driven out into the street to
beg, would seem to us the height of misery. This, sad to say, is the
lot of thousands in China. Why the blind boys are more numerous
than the blind girls is explained from the fact that most are stricken
with blindness in their infancy, and that the hfe of a little girl is
regarded of very little value, especially if she is blind.

School Started at Honanfu.

By means of schools for the blind, founded by missionaries in differ-
ent parts of China, many have been lifted up out of sin and want and
uselessness into noble, self-supporting and useful lives. Our Augus-
tana Synod Mission owns one such institution on its field. Dr. C. P.
Friberg, who was stationed at Honanfu to carry on medical work, met
with many persons incurably blind, and to him the need of a school
for such became more apparent day by day. At the annual conference
86 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

papers of the fourth to the eighth grades inclusive are sent to them for
correction and marking.

May the Lord so bless our schools that the students they turn out
may receive the highest “mark,” which will ever afterward in their
various walks in life induce them to study to show themselves approved
unto God. Tey,

 

 

7 OUTSIDE OF CITY WALL, KAIFENG.
(It is here that the head of the robber chief,
White Wolf, was set up.)
BOYS’ SCHOOL FOR BLIND 89

 

Conversion.

Strolling about the streets of Peking the little beggar urchin found
his way into the mission compound of the Murray Blind School. He
won favor with the gatekeeper and through him the teacher heard of
the little blind boy, and ventured to ask for his admittance into the
school. After much pleading with the missionary in charge, he was
finally admitted. He was now a lad of eleven years. The surround-
ings now entered were quite different from those of his beggar life.
A Christian atmosphere soon convinced him of right and wrong, and
it was made known to him that also he was a sinner who could be
saved only by grace through the blood of Christ. The Chinese blind
are taught that because they can’t see they have no sins; and go little
Fu declared that also he was without sins, and would even refuse to
mention the name of Jesus. When the convicting spirit of God lays
hold of man’s heart, even the hardest can be melted. After three
years of resistance this young lad broke down in tears, confessing his
sins and imploring for mercy. This took place at one of Mr. Goforth’s
revival meetings held at Peking.

Small Beginnings.

Upon the teacher’s arrival at Honanfu one pupil awaited him, a
beggar forty years old who had received treatment in the dispensary
and was asked to stay on to enter the proposed school. Later two
more beggars came, also a neighbor’s boy, who later was discharged on
account of bad behavior. The beggars stayed on a few months enjoy-
ing what was offered them — food, clothing and daily instruction by
a well-trained teacher. Through years of beggar life they had, how-
ever, become indifferent and lazy, regarding it too difficult to comply
with the rules of the school; and secretly taking their departure they
have never returned.

That first summer another young beggar lad was sent up by one of
our workers at Hsiichow. He proved to be bright and looked promis-
ing. After remaining more than a year he stole away one night, hav-
ing begged money for his railway fare from carpenters and workers at
the mission station. The year was not marked with great progress as
the revolution broke out in October, making it necessary for missionar-
ies to leave their stations. The country was in a general stir and no
one, therefore, thought of sending their children to school.
88 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

held at Hsiichow in February, 1911, Dr. Friberg laid the matter be-
fore his fellow workers. It was decided that inquiries for a teacher
should be made, and if one could be procured a school for blind boys
should be opened.

 

 

SCHOOL FOR BLIND BOYS. HONANFU.

Mr. Fu.

Already in March the teacher, Mr. Fu, had arrived in Honanfu.
The Murray Institute for Chinese Blind in Peking was then over
twenty years old, and therefore had some well-trained young men
ready to go out as teachers. No doubt friends of this work who are
praying for and contributing to this branch of mission work would
like to know something about its teacher. Myr. Fu, on his arrival, was
24 years old. He was the fifth child in a family of six children. At
the age of three weeks he became blind through infectious disease;
thus he remembers nothing of what this wonderful world looks like.
His father held the position of a small official, but later was put out
of office and squandered his small estate. Little Fu was sent out to
beg when he was six years old; this because he happened to be blind.
Te soon became known among his comrades as very clever in his pro-
fession, stealing, lying, cheating, and swearing being among the traits
for which he was renowned.
BOYS’ SCHOOL FOR BLIND 91

 

mental) have been taught. This last vear the Standard Curriculum
has been adopted, and the raised dot system changed from Murray’s
to the Braille Union System. Through the use of this system all the
literature in use at other blind schools in China can be procured at
low prices. Several portions of the Bible are already out and more in
press.

Industrial Work.

An attempt at industrial work has also been made during the last
term of school. After much inquiry and consultation with other blind
schools, weaving of cloth, knitting and braid making was started. The
beginning is small indeed, but it is hoped that this branch may offer
help to those especially who are not gifted as teachers or evangelists,
opening a way for them to earn their own bread when they leave school.
Some pupils have worked half of the day, others less. There is room
for much improvement, and much experimenting will have to be done
before this branch of work will prove satisfactory.

Spiritual Work.

The spiritual work among them has, as we see it, been blessed. Three
members have been baptized and are proving faithful witnesses. One
of those who first entered is now testifying daily to the many sick who
come to the dispensary. Seven more have asked to be received into
the church through baptism, but have been put off as they have but
lately entered and are yet quite young, ranging in ages from eight to
twenty-four. The chapel services are greatly helped by the singing.
On Sundays, large and small pupils take turns going into the city to
help with the singing in the street chapel. Sometimes the older ones
are called upon to give short testimonies at these meetings.

The term 1915 closed with an enrolment of eighteen pupils, five
having been admitted during the year. More applications for admit-
tance were received, but they were put off till the opening of the fall
term. Much love, sympathy, tact and wisdom are needed in the man-
agement of this work. It is hoped that these boys may be helped, not
only while they remain at the school in the way of food and clothing,
for most of them are extremely poor, but that they may be helped to
help themselves in after life as they go out from school. May they in
word and deed, according to their gifts and abilities, prove to be so
many living testimonies of the gospel’s power to bless them.

M. H. 1.
90 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

Troublous Times.

The blind teacher was thus left with other native workers alone at
the station. Many dangers threatened, but God’s hand was with them
through it all. At one time a band of soldiers had planned to loot the
mission compound. This was averted by one of the evangelists notify-
ing the mandarin, who at once ordered them away from the mission
station. They had pretended to seek a night’s lodging in the chapel,
while their intention was to rob the place of its valuables. Again, dur-
ing the clash between the soldiers in the city, when shot and shell fell
thick on the mission premises, all
were kept safely. The blind, who
could not see, only hear the dan-
ger, took refuge in the caves on
the place.

Fresh Start.

When peace was restored and the
missionaries returned, the work
was revived, and the news of a
school for the blind spread among
the people. During the following
winter as many as eighteen were
enrolled at one time. For various
reasons all did not remain, so that
the opening of the following term marked an enrolment of fourteen.
Most of the pupils have come from surrounding villages, with the ex-
ception of one sent from Shensi by the Swedish Mission in China, two
from Juchow and one from Hsiichow.

One death occured the third year. The pupil from Shensi was taken
seriously ill and died in about two weeks. The saving truth of Jesus
had become precious to him, according to his own confession, and he
did not fear death. We regard it as a great blessing that the school
has, even so early, been the means of leading lost ones into the fold of
the Good Shepherd.

 

Blind Boys at Exercise. Honanfu.

Curriculum.
A general education is offered at the school. The raised dot system
is used, whereby they learn to read. History, mathematics, Chinese
classics, Christianity, geography and music (both vocal and instru-
 

 

 

LANGUAGE SCHOOL ON CHIKUNGSHAN.

a |] INCE language schools for the training of new missionaries

sefomp|| have been found so profitable to the new workers in acquir-

Ser || ing the language, the several missions of the Honan province

=" J} united to establish such an institution on Chikungshan last

fall. Rev. A. W. Edwins of the Augustana Synod Mission was chosen
as foreign instructor of the school.

School opened October 21, 1914, and seventeen new missionaries
were present to begin the study of Chinese. The new workers who had
been hindered from coming earlier on account of the war, started the
language course after Christmas. A third class of six second-year
pupils availed themselves of the school, and have received instruction
two hours a week.

The Nanking course of lessons and Baller’s Primer have been the
basis of study for the first year. One class has also read a few chap-
ters of the Gospel of St. John. The beginning classes have had two
hours of class work daily, one meeting from 8 to 9:50 a. m., and the
other from 10:10 to noon. Twenty minutes between classes have been
set aside for devotion, which has been conducted by the pastors in turn.

After a fervent prayer by Rev. Edwins the usual program of study
has been as follows: reciting the sentences learned for the day; going
over those for the following day with the Chinese teachers; writing
the characters assigned for the day, and observing the native teachers
write those of the next day, taking note of the order of the strokes;
forty-five minutes of informal conversation based on something al-
ready gone over, conducted by one of the native teachers. The re-
mainder of the day has been left for individual study with the native

 

 
92 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

 

 

 

CHAPEL AND HOMES, CHIKUNGSHAN.

 

 

 

LANGUAGE SCHOOL. PUPILS AND TEACHERS.
LANGUAGE SCHOOL ON CHIKUNGSHAN a)

 

book we used. They considered the method used a good one and that
rapid progress was being made, but that there were certain limitations
arising from location, little opportunities of seeing mission work in
operation and coming in touch with the Chinese so as to practice what
had been learned. Though being secluded from actual mission work
during the first year may have its limitations, yet it has the distinct
advantage of enabling the student to concentrate all his energy on the
work of acquiring the language, something which is rarely realized at
the mission stations with their complexity of duties.

The mountain scenery is most beautiful. We have often stood in
wonder looking out over the rolling mists fillmg the valleys below us.
Oftentimes during the winter, after heavy mists and snow, nature has
put on a heavy cloak of frost and snow. When the sun shone out
upon it the world about us looked like one mass of sparkling jewels.

Our hearts are filled with gratitude to God as we look back upon
our first year in China. We are thankful for the opportunity of study-
ing this new and difficult language under the able direction of our first
missionary. The sweet memories of fellowship with friends during
this time shall always be dear to us. United by common need and a
common, purpose, we have gathered every Sabbath, and for meditation
and prayer every Thursday afternoon. As a mission we have spent
a quiet hour together on Saturdays to learn more of the way of life
and to receive strength for the work that lies before.

School for Missionaries’ Children.

Unity School for missionaries’ children may well be mentioned in
this connection. This project is the result of the united efforts of
several Lutheran missions. It gladdened our hearts to receive a com-
munication from our home board to the effect that also our Synod is
willing to cooperate in this undertaking. Up to this time the school
has been handicapped by a lack of buildings or any fixed place of loca-
tion, but this will soon be helped as a large commodious building is
now being erected here on Chikungshan to be ready for occupation
when school commences this fall (1915).

Unity School offers instruction corresponding to the grade and high
school in America. Besides this, religious instruction is offered.
Twenty-four pupils have studied this year under the direction of two
94 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

teachers. The method followed has been to listen carefully to the
teacher and then to imitate him as nearly as possible. Chinese teach-
ers have been secured from the fields, so that each one has learnt the
dialect of the particular locality where he or she expects to labor.
Chikungshan is an ideal place for the school. It is situated in the
southern part of the province of Honan, a half day’s journey from
Usiichow by rail. Here one can enjoy the pure, bracing mountain
air. It is a good place to become acchmated. Good accommodations

 

 

 

 

 

WINTER SCENE ON CHIKUNGSHAN.

have been offered. The large band of newcomers of our own Synod
were kindly taken into the Edwins home, and Mother Edwins deserves
our heartfelt thanks for providing for us so well. The dining room
of the China Inland Mission home has served as schoolroom.

During the course of the year we had a visit from the language
school commission, appointed by the China Continuation Committee
to study the seven or more language schools in China, and make re-
ports concerning progress made, and also offer suggestions for im-
provement. Members of this commission were: Mr. W. B. Pettus, a
prominent authority on language study; Rey. Frank Rawlinson, editor
of the Chinese Recorder; and Rev. F. W. Baller, author of the text-
 

 

 

THE DAY OF OPPORTUNITY IN OUR EDUCATIONAL WORK.

T has only been of recent years that the home churches have
ineluded educational work in their plans for foreign mis-
sions. To preach the gospel and to convert the heathen
to Christ was long thought to be the only call of the mis-
sionary. Yet, though he had no instructions from the home board,
the missionary when once on the field soon took up school work, since
he found that without schools for the young and the illiterate, he
could accomplish very little of permanent value.

 

Schools as Avenues of Approach.

The strange foreigner, with his pale face and outlandish clothing,
is more or less repellent to the people. They are not eager to hear
him attempt to talk about his religion, in which they take little or no
interest. The children, on the other hand, are less prejudiced and
more curious. They also have more time to cultivate an acquaintance
with the foreigner. They soon learn that he is quite harmless and
moreover very interesting. They enjoy going to his house or school
and listening to the interesting things he has to say. These children
carry back to their parents and to the community in which they live
and move, reports of the doings, sayings, and teachings of their new-
found friends. In this way prejudices are broken down, and the mis-
sionary finds the approach to the parents, hy way of the child, fairly
easy. Many a pastor at home would testify that the Sunday-school
has proved an avenue of approach to many homes which otherwise
have been closed to Christian influences.

Our First Decade in China. 7,
96 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

teachers. A significant event in the history of this school took place
June 16th this vear when graduation exercises were held for the first
graduating class of the Unity High School. The two young ladies
making up the class showed by their graduation essays that their in-
struction has been of a thoroughgoing nature. By this school, cen-
trally located and with fine equipment, the vexing problem of the edu-
cation of the missionaries’ children is happily solved. All honor to
the pioneers in this work who have worked hard and sacrificed much

that the results which we to-day see might be achieved.
H. J.C.

 

 

MISSION HOUSES AT HONANFU.
OPPORTUNITY IN OUR EDUCATIONAL WORK 99

 

the rest pass a precarious existence. Our field is in the oldest part of
China, and has a culture ten times as old as that of New England.
Its people knew the art of printing a thousand years before it was ever
dreamed of in the West. Still the average citizen does not know wheth-
er China is a country in Asia, or whether Asia is a part of China. The
scholar knows his classics by heart, but he knows little or nothing of
Western inventions and many other things, which we count as indis-
pensable to civilization.

As I look these sturdy Honanese in the face, I see no reason why
they should not, in every way, compare well with their American
brothers and sisters, if given an equal chance. They are democratic
by nature, and possess many of the qualities that characterize lberty-
loving Americans. Why, then, this great difference? Four thousand
years of isolation and bondage under sin, in the one case, and a
thousand years of freedom under the gospel, in the other, have pro-
duced a wide gulf of difference, indeed difficult to bridge over.

People Ready for Education.

There is still another point I wish to touch upon briefly. The peo-
ple are now ready for education. The Chinese, like most other Orien-
tals, have awakened from their long sleep to find that they have been
left far in the rear by Western nations. They are becoming more and
more restless under this state of affairs. Japan was quick to arouse
herself, and set to work to better her conditions. Now she is even
bidding well to surpass her teachers. China moves more slowly, but
is stirring uneasily, and learning rapidly. Yearly hundreds of her
brightest sons and daughters go to foreign lands to learn Western
methods. The majority go to Japan; increasing numbers go to the
United States and Europe. The sad part of this situation is that
so few come under Christian influences while they are abroad, and
often return with decidedly anti-Christian theories. Why might not
these and many others, poorer, but just as worthy, be trained here at
home under wholesome, Christian influences ?

The higher institutions of learning that have been started by other
missions are being conducted along the best approved Western meth-
ods with really remarkable results. The government has also recog-
nized the value of these schools to China, and in most instances affords
them full recognition. The government is at present too short of funds
98 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

Training of Native Helpers.

It is only through the schools that the missionary can secure the
native assistants and colaborers which the work demands. The only
way that the Church of Christ can be established is through native
preachers and teachers. They understand their own people as the
missionary never learns to understand them. No mission has pros-
pered which has not given due attention to the training of native
helpers.

Christian Laity.

It is not only for the training of pastors and evangelists that schools
are needed. The Church needs a Christian laity as well, Christian
statesmen, business men, mechanics, artisans, Christian women as
mothers and teachers. Christianity and ignorance have never gone
hand in hand. On the contrary, wherever true Christianity has en-
tered, there ignorance has passed out. What would America be to-day,
but for the splendid institutions of learning that early settlers, poor
and lowly Christians, established out of their small savings? The
missionary, in most cases, finds nothing to correspond to these schools
of training for citizenship. Wherefore he at once writes home to the
board and his home constituency, and pleads for men and means to
establish schools.

Comparisons.

Have you, dear reader, ever tried to draw a comparison between your
own state or section and an equal section of a heathen country? A
comprehensive comparison would prove both interesting and enlight-
ening. It will open your eyes to many things you never before have
thought of. Your patriotic feelings are certain to be stirred with
pride; but if you are a Christian, to whom your Master’s charge, “Go
ye, and make disciples of all nations,” is more than a dead letter, your
heart will surely burn with compassion, and a desire will be born to
share the many benefits that you enjoy with your numerous unfortu-
nate brothers and sisters in the heathen world.

I wish at this time only to indicate how such a comparison might
prove helpful. Our field in Honan covers an area of about the size
of the two states Connecticut and Massachusetts, and is just as densely
populated. It compares equally well in resources. Yet, if the crops
fail one year, thousands are brought to the verge of starvation, and
OPPORTUNITY IN OUR EDUCATIONAL WORK 101

 

and professional schools. Millions of dollars are raised annually for
the support of these institutions, and not a small part among the
Chinese themselves. We Lutherans have done but little along this
line.

Our Strategic Position.

It will appear that from looking at the map of China, and noting
the important position the Lutheran Church holds geographically, that
God has meant her to be a dominating force in the new China. He
has entrusted to her the very heart of China. Lutheran missions
occupy, in the central povinces, territory equal to all of Illinois and
Iowa and half of Wisconsin, or as large as the whole of New England
plus New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and half of
Maryland. In this territory she is ministering to a population of
50,000,000 souls. Some of the older missions have many converts,
splendid grade schools and high schools, and have the work well organ-
ized. Hitherto there has been very little cooperation among the vari-
ous missions. The individual missions are too poor to undertake any-
thing on a large scale. To establish and maintain colleges and pro-
fessional schools according to up-to-date standards requires more
money than the individual missions can supply.

Union Efforts.

Recently there have been attempts among the Lutheran missions
to get together. The Central China Union Lutheran Theological
Seminary at Shekow, Hupeh, is the first-fruit of united Lutheran
effort in China. Four of the older missions support this institution,
and others are planning to join in with them soon. It is centrally
located, easy of access, and is one of the best institutions of its kind
in China.

Last April a very significant conference was held at this institution,
to which eight missions sent delegates. It continued for four days,
and was remarkable both for the things accomplished and for the
fraternal spirit that characterized the sessions throughout. Among
other important resolutions passed, one calling for the early establish-
ment of a union Lutheran college at a centrally located place, deserves
special mention here. The various Lutheran missions joining in this
enterprise could easily establish and maintain a college, which in time
might become one of the leading institutions of its kind in China.
100 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

to undertake much in the line of erection and maintenance of schools,
and therefore welcomes what the missions are doing in this respect.

Present-day Opportunities.

The reader will readily see from the above that opportunity is now
knocking at the door of the Christian Church, and in particular our
own denomination, to win the greatest nation on earth to Christianity.
The people are eager for education. The government is willing that
they should have schools, but is unable to furnish them. Therefore
the Christian Church, with her wealth of men and means, should seize

 

 

 

 

 

THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AT SHEKOW, HUPEH.

this golden opportunity, and lay the foundations deep and true for a
well-balanced educational system for China; a system founded on
Christian principles. The opportunity is ours to-day; it may not rest
with us long. The government is itself Confucianistic. Many of the
president’s advisers are anti-Christian. There is a strong movement
on foot to make Confucianism the state religion, and to tolerate no
other. Buddhists and Mohammedans are equally eager to see the
downfall of Christianity. If we do not now enter the open door and
possess the land for Christ, the day will come when both God and man
will take their support from us, and we may never have a chance again.

Other denominations seem more awake to the situation than we.
All the leading Reformed churches have established splendid colleges
 

 

 

 

HOW GOD HAS BLESSED THE WORK OF OUR MISSION.

 

rh Y dear friends, —I am inclined to believe that at this
A, juncture of our mission work we are tempted to look with
cus great eagerness and anticipation to the future and forget
“¥¥d84| the many blessings of the past.

In Numbers, sixth chapter, we read: “The Lord spake unto Moses
saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons saying, On this wise ye
shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The Lord bless
thee and keep thee.” We all remember the day when we were conse-
erated unto this high and holy calling, to go forth and proclaim Christ
where His name was not known, and how the solemn words of this
benediction were pronounced upon us. As we are now looking back
over the years since that day, some of us are looking back over a decade,
others a shorter period of years. Can we truthfully say that God has
kept His promise, “I will bless thee” ?

One of our missionaries has sent me the following testimony: “There
have been times when I have had the consciousness of the sweet pres-
ence of my Saviour in a special manner, when His spirit has almost
overpowered me, but it is hard to write that down on paper.” An-
other writes: “The precious gospel has become more precious to me
the two and a half years spent here, then, too, prayers of years back,
I find many are answered out here where the dark night of paganism
has not yet passed.” Another says: “Blessings — well, beginning to
count them, I see the greatest of God’s mercy, vaster, broader than
the sea.” These are just a few testimonies which express the con-
sciousness of God’s presence; and I am sure that if each one of us
were called upon to testify to God’s faithfulness in keeping His prom-
ises, we should all give similar testimonies.

  
  
102 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

Our Needs.

It is uncommon to hear of individuals setting aside large sums for
the mission work of various church bodies. We were all made happy,
last winter, to hear of the thousand-dollar gift for a church at Ytichow.
We earnestly hope and pray that many will follow this example and
set aside smaller or larger sums for the special needs of our educa-
tional work. Each station needs funds for primary, elementary, and
middle schools. The girls’ high school at Kiahsien needs money for
buildings and upkeep. The high school for boys at Hsiichow, which
is to be opened in the fall of 1916, begs for a prominent place in the
thoughts and plans of our home friends. Besides, we are planning
schools for the training of evangelists and native helpers. We shall
soon be able to present a budget, showing just the amounts we need
for these various projects.

In closing, I earnestly plead for an increased number of intercessors
for our educational work in China. “The prayer of a righteous man
availeth much, where it is in action.” J. L. B.
GOD’S BLESSING OF OUR MISSION 105

 

open doors, but has given us a missionary force, which is indispensable
in waging war against the foe, and winning these vast multitudes for
Christ. I remember how, a few years ago, the pleas came from our
field owt here to our Church at home for workers: ‘The harvest truly
is plenteous, but the laborers are few.” I also remember how emphat-
ically and constantly, in our congregations and schools at home, the
needs of the heathen were set before us. Now, at the close of the first
decade, we are thirty-two missionaries. To this recruiting some
twenty-five congregations have contributed and with us share the
blessings.

The Lord has also been mindful of our needs. A visit to our several
stations demonstrates how “The Lord will provide.” Over two hundred
thousand taels ($123,457) have been expended in maintaining and
developing our work up to the present; and now, with faith in God
and confidence in our people of the home Jand, we are looking forward
to still greater things.

Conscious of the dangers to which a missionary is exposed, Alex-
ander Mackay, pioneer missionary to Uganda, in his farewell address
to the members of the committee said: “Is it at all likely that six
Englishmen should start for Central Africa and all be alive six months
after? One of us at least — it may be I — will surely fall before that,
but what I want to say is this, when that news comes do not be cast
down, but send someone else immediately to take the vacant place.”
His warning was not groundless, for of the party of eight, he alone
survived to see Uganda. Do we realize the many dangers from which
the Lord has kept us? We have left our native country to come to this
distant land. On this journey the Lord has safeguarded us. Here we
are in the midst of heathendom, and some of us by experience have
learned to be in journeys often, in perils of robbers, in perils by the
heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the country, in perils among
false brethren, besides the dangers which daily surround us, the cli-
mate and habits of the people. To-day, as we recall some of these
trying experiences, we marvel at the wondrous ways in which the Lord
has delivered us.

From the history of pioneer missionaries we learn that, with per-
haps a few exceptions, they have had to learn the lesson of patient
waiting for converts. Adoniram Judson had to wait six years before
he saw one convert. William Carey, after seven years of work, had
104 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

Someone has said: “Our blessing God is only our speaking well of
Him; His blessing us is doing well for us.” Let us then see what God
hax done for us. From Hsiichow, the starting point on the extreme
eastern border of our mission field, our work has gradually expanded
so that now at the end of ten years, we have taken possession of all
the important centers. In this growth of our mission there have been
many difficulties to encounter and obstacles to overcome. To be able

 

 

 

MISSION WORKERS AT HONANFU.

to secure a footing in a new place, and to overcome the prejudices the
Chinese have toward the foreigner, are some of the most prominent of
the obstacles we are called upon to contend with in the opening up of
a new field.

In three of the cities where we are now located no missionary work
had previously been done, only a few itinerating visits, and in two of
the larger cities we preceded the Catholics. Attempts had been made
by missionaries of other missions, but these had failed. The doors
were closed. Those in authority were determined to bar the foreigner ;
but Jehovah still reigns. God has not only blessed us in giving us
GOD'S BLESSING OF OUR MISSION 107

 

entruste unto us the gospel of Jesus Christ which is, “The power of
(sod unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” The Lord has blessed
our labors in the past so that now we have the beginning of a Chris-
tian Church planted in a heathen Jand. More than one hundred and
fifty souls have been united with the Church of God on our field by
holy baptism. To hear the testimony of those who a few years ago
were in heathen darkness and see their changed lives reveals to us
God’s blessing. A little school girl who was baptized a year ago says:
“Tt’s so different now, since I became a Christian; I was unhappy,
Jesus made me happy. He died for me on the cross and His blood
cleanses me from sin. In life or death, I will not leave Jesus.” One
of our school boys had written in his copybook these words: “Two or
three times in my life God in His mercy touched my life, and twice
before my conversion I was under deep conviction.”

“Go, labor on, spend and be spent —-
Thy joy to do the Father’s will;
It is the way the Master went;
Should not the servant tread it still?

Go, labor on, ’tis not for naught;
Thine earthly loss is heavenly gain.

Men heed thee, love thee, praise thee not;
The Master praises — what are men?

Toil on, and in thy toil rejoice!
For toil comes rest; for exile, home.

Soon shalt thou hear the Bridegroom’s voice,
The midnight peal: ‘Behold, I come.’ ”

J. Wd
106 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

the joy of baptizing his first convert. Robert Moffat says: “I often
feel at a loss what to say relative the kingdom of Christ at this station.
A sameness marks the events of each returning day. No converts, no
inquiry after God, no objections raised to exercise our powers of de-
fence. Indifference and stupidity form the wreath on every brow. 0,
when shall the day-star arise in their hearts! We preach, we converse,
we catechise, we pray, but without the least apparent success.” After
seven years of most arduous labor and suffering Moffat had the joy of
baptizing six Bechuanas. Of this event he says: “Our feelings on

 

 

 

 

NEW ARRIVALS, 1914.
(Picture taken at Honolulu.)

that occasion were such that pen would fail to describe. We were as
those that dream, while we realized the promise on which our soul
had often hung, ‘He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious
seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing bringing his sheaves
with him’ ” William Burns said at the end of 1853: “T have labored
in China seven years and I do not know of a single soul brought to
Christ by me.” Some weeks later he was at Pechuia, twenty miles
inland from Amoy, and there saw the first fruits of his work. A whole
family sought baptism, idols were destroyed, and a little later the first
converts were formed into a church.

Whether we labor in India or Africa or China we know the soil is
hard, but we should not be discouraged or cast down. The Lord has
 

 

KINA-MISSIONENS GRUNDLAGGANDE VERKSAMHET INOM
AUGUSTANA-SYNODEN.

N verksamhet har, da den begynner framtriida, i hvarje
4) fall en langre period af férberedande arbete bakom sig.
ASS) Manga krafter hafva samverkat fdr att Avigabringa det
Ge} cifna resultatet. Augustana-synodens Kina-mission utgor
intet undantag fran denna allmiinna regel.

En egen, sjilfstindig hednamission var ett 6nskemal och ett béne-
amne i mangas hjaértan inom Augustana-synoden, langt innan tan-
ken pa Kina gjort sig gaillande hos nagon af dess medlemmar. Denna
langtan, som rérde sig pa djupet af synodens sjil, tog sig tid efter
annan uttryck saval enskildt som offentligen. Detta utgér den egent-
liga forberedelsen for Augustana-synodens missionsverksamhet i Kina.
Enskilda personer funnos, hvilka da denna langtan antog karaktiren
af en malmedveten rorelse, under en half mansalder i sina boner tankt
pa en sadan verksamhet.

Andamalet med denna lilla skiss ar emellertid ej att visa, hvilka
rorelser som under arens lopp forberedt denna verksamhets fram-
tridande, utan att framstilla nigra drag af det arbete, som direkt
Asyftade upprattandet af var synods missionsverksamhet i Kina. Vi
skola allts& begrinsa oss till de ar, under hvilka Hednamissionssill-
skapet ensamt var ansvarigt fdr verksamheten i Kina, och darvid sys-
selsiitta oss blott med den del af Missionsséllskapets verksamhet, som
Asyftade missionssakens frimjande har hemma inom vir synod.

En verksamhet, som har till syftemal att fylla ett gifvet lifsbehof,
skrifver under sina forsta ringhetsdagar vanligtvis ingen historia.

 
CAoyonsE 4@ uaye} ainzdtg)
“AdIM S.UaddOU V CNV SUAAAOU SAONVA OAL

 

 

 

 
Vik KINA-MISSIONS VERKSAMHET 111

 

Vid ett bonemote, som hélls i missionens intresse 4r 1901 i Bethle-
hemsforsamlingens pristgird, Minneapolis, Minn., kom missionen i
Kina aterigen i sarskild aitanke. En missioniir, som dai nyligen hem-
kommit fran Kina, lade detta lands néd och behof de nirvarande be-
vekande pa hjartat. Beslut fattades ocksA vid niimnda tillfalle att
sammankalla ett mote af i saken intresserade for att ridgdra om
hvad som méjligtvis kunde goras for att ytterligare vidga och for-
djupa intresset ibland vart folk for hednamissionen. Mitet i friga
holls i Bethlehemskyrkan i Minneapolis, Minn., den 3 och 4 september
1901. Sedan motet dppnats pi sedvanligt sitt, hilsade pastor P. A.
Mattson de narvarande valkomna och angaf andamalet med métet.
Pastor C. J. Collin holl darpa foredrag ofver amnet: “Vart samfunds
skyldighet mot hednavarlden.”

Foljande dag fortsattes samtalet ofver ofvan angifna imne. Sedan
frigan grundlgt och allsidigt behandlats, framstilldes forslag om att
stifta ett missionssdillskap med hednamissionen sdsom mal. Innan
omrostning foretogs, upplyfte de narvarande sina hjartan i bén till
honom, som befallt sina larjungar att predika evangelium for hela
skapelsen.

Sa var da det viktiga steget taget. Nu giillde det att gi framat i
Herrens namn.

Den 8 april 1902 sammantridde missionssillskapet for att antaga
konstitution och besluta om verksamheten for den nirmaste fram-
tiden. Sedan konstitutionen antagits, valdes fdljande ambetsmin:
ordférande, pastor P. A. Mattson; vice ordférande, pastor C. J. Carl-
son; sekreterare, pastor J. G. Hultkrans. Féljande personer utgjorde
styrelsens férsta medlemmar: pastorerna A. F. Almer, C. A. Hult-
krans, O. A. Nelson, E. O. Stone, C. J. Collin och J. A. Frost samt
herrar G. W. Olson och August Peterson. Styrelsens forsta ambets-
min voro: ordférande, pastor A. F. Almer; vice ordférande, pastor
E. O. Stone; sekreterare, pastor C. A. Hultkrans, och kassér, pastor
O. A. Nelson. Pastor O. A. Nelson har anda sedan dess troget statt
pai sin post som Missionssillskapets kassor.

Vid ett fdljande mote, som hélls i Gustaf Adolfskyrkan i St. Paul,
Minn., samma Ar, den 21 november 1902, beslots att utgifva ett ma-
nadsblad med uppgift att verka for hednamissionen och diakonien.
Bladet erholl namnet Luthersh Tidskrift for hednamission och dia-
koni. Tull redaktor for missionsafdelningen valdes pastor A. F. Almer
110 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

Den ar alltfor mycket upptagen med att fylla den gifna uppgiften
gent emot det forhandenvarande nédliget. Alla krafter maste kon-
centreras pa sjalfva arbetet och foga eller ingen tanke agnas at den
historia, som skrifves med hvarje dag som gar tillinda. Mycket his-
toriskt material, som skulle vara af allra storsta virde, forkommer
dairfor under grundliggningstiden. Kina-missionen utgér icke heller
i detta afseende nagot undantag
fran andra kyrkliga verksamhets-
grenar. Det material, som finnes,
ar emellertid tillrackligt for att
kasta ett ganska klart ljus 6fver
denna verksamhets upprinnelse

 

och utveckhng.

En rad af omstandigheter bi-
drogo till att mangas tankar rik-
tades pa varldens stérsta missions-
falt, Kina. Boxarupproret ar 1900
got olja pa missionslagan 1 mang-
as hjirtan. Martyrernas blod be-
visade sig afven 1 detta fall vara
kyrkans utside. Talet foll ofta pa
Kina man och man emellan. Har
var ett falt, som var forsummadt,
ett falt, som miaste tillgodoses.
Kunde ej var kyrka upptaga verk-
(Served continuously as a member of the Chinn S2™Mhet pA detta stora, nddstiillda
Mission Board from the time the Board was miissionsfalt? Var icke sjilfva
ee ee co occurred October oxarupproret ett nédrop, en bin

till hela kristenheten, en bon, som
kunde sammanfattas i orden: Kom hit dfver och bjailp oss? Na
follo orden och frégorna man och man emellan, och i mangas hjir-
tan blef det bén oevh férbén samt formyad ifver for Herrens verk i
hednavarlden.

Tanken pa att upptaga verksamhet i Kina tringde sig fram med
fornyad kraft. Men den stora uppgiften, sidan som denna tedde sig
for de flesta som intresserade sig for saken, verkade afskriickande.
Men tanken lefde och gjorde sig giillande med stindigt viixande styrka.

 

 

REV, C. A. HULTKRANS.
VAR KINA-MISSIONS VERKSAMHET 113

 

ken kunde sitta sig i spetsen for verksamheten och, nar tiden var inne
att taga ett sadant steg, utga sasom missionir till hednavirlden.
Vidare uppmanades styrelsen att till denna tjinst kalla pastor P. A.
Mattson, Missionssillskapets davarande ordférande. Pastor Mattson
fann det emellertid omdjligt att antaga en sidan kallelse. Vid samma
tillfalle fattades afven foljande beslut:

“Att styrelsen far i uppdrag att sitta sig i forbindelse med missions-
falten i Kina och Afrika for att utréna, hvar man bast kunde borja
en ny mission.” Korea var afven i atanke. Det visar, att Missions-
sillskapet ingalunda forhastade sig i fraga om val af missionsfalt.
Valet foll slutligen pa provinsen Honan i Kina. Att det var Gud
sjalf, som band oss vid detta falt, darpa tviflar ingen, som stod verk-
samheten nagot narmare under denna tid. Da missionir A. W. Ed-
wins foéretog sin forsta undersdkningsresa for att, sdisom han sjalf i
ett bref uttrycker sig, “finna ett missionsfalt at Augustana-synoden”,
blef han forhindrad att resa genom de trakter, som han ursprungligen
aimnat besdka, pa grund af vigarnas osikerhet for rofvare. Pa sa
sitt kom han ofdrtankt just till det falt, som nu ar Augustana-syno-
dens missionsfalt. Han kom ocksa for samma orsaks skull att fa gora
bekantskap med ett par af Kina Inland-missionens arbetare, missio-
narerna Joyce och Guinness, hvilka pa allt sitt bistodo honom i hans
undersikningsarbete. Hirom siger missioniir Edwins i ett bref, skrif-
vet efter fullbordad undersdkningsresa :

“Knappt nigon gang forr i mitt lif har jag erfarit en gladje sidan
som den, hvilken fyllde min sjal, da det blef klart, att vi verkligen
fatt oss en plats anvisad, dir vi fa vara med om att géra var dyre
Frilsare kind for Kinas arma folk. Hvilken nad Gud inda, bevisar
mot arma syndbesmittade varelser! Herrens vagar aro underbara.
Hvarfér fick pobeln stinga fdr oss den vag vi ursprungligen amnat
resa. Hirigenom nédgades vi fara den nordligare vagen och kommo
si till dessa nya vianner (Joyce och Guinness). Och dessa voro bada
hir genom Guds skickelse. Hade vi fatt resa, da vi forst amnade, sa
hade vi sannolikt ej kunnat triffa dem bida. Men Gud hor bon.
Férriin vi ropa, svarar han; medan vi annu tala, hor han. Doktor
Guinness foreslog, att vi skulle gemensamt bedja till Gud och tacka
honom, innan vi skildes. Och si utgéto vi i stillhet och enfald vara
hjartan infor Gud, som bor 1 hdjden, men dock ser ned till de ringa
och bor med sin Ande i deras hjartan.”

Our First Decade in China. 8.
112 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

och fér diakoniafdelningen pastor C. A. Hultkrans. De tva forsta
numren voro 8-sidiga. Direfter dkades sidoantalet till 16, hvilken
storlek manadsbladet finnu innehar. Det forsta numret utkom 1 janu-
arl 1903. Ur tidskriftens forsta anmalan vilja vi anfora foljande:

“Harmed framtrider denna tidskrift for forsta gangen infor all-
minheten. Midt under denna tids rastlosa aflan, som sa latt
kommer oss att forgita hvad som viktigare ar, vill den (Luthersk
Tidskrift) efter mattet af sina krafter vacka uppmiarksamheten pa
hednavirldens vaxande nod, pa kristenhetens oafvisliga forpliktelse
att géra sitt yttersta fdr virldens evangelisering och pa det stora
arbete, som pagir 1 syfte att frimja Guds rikes utbredande och be-
fastande i varlden. Den vill ock sdka att, om mojligt, genom Guds
nad vacka och fordjupa karleken till detta arbete. Detta ar tidskrif-
tens mission, och denna mission vill den afven efter formaga sdka
att fylla. Redaktionen vagar darfor i all 6dmjukhet bedja missionens
vinner att troget understédja foretaget med forbéner och med arbete
for tidningens spridning, att dirigenom m4 vinnas si val dkad kanne-
dom om som 6kadt intresse for hednamissionen.”

Med utgifvandet af minadsbladet i fraga hade ett stort steg tagits
mot det efterstrafvade milet: upptagandet af missionsverksamhet i
Kina. Foretaget krontes fran bérjan med framging. Tidningen
mottogs med en vilvilja, som 6fversteg de djarfvaste forhoppningar.
Visserligen uteblef icke heller motstandet. Ingen verksamhet i Guds
rike har annu framkommit, som undsluppit detta prdfningsdop. Det
tillhor den fostran, som ar nédvindig for en framtida halsosam ut-
veckling.

Ar 1908 andrades namnet frin Luthersk Tidskrift till Kina Missio-
niren. Fran och med denna tid har den uteslutande ignat sig at
hednamissionens intressen.

Vid styrelsens méte den 28 januari 1903 upptogs frigan om kallan-
det af missionir till behandling. Sedan saken grundligt ofvervagts,
fattades foljande beslut:

“Att vi ej denna ging utfiirda nagon kallelsc, utan fortfara med
att frambira denna viktiga angeligenhet i bén till Herren, till dess
han sjalf gifver anvisning pa nigon, som kinner sig manad att uted
i sin Mastares tjiinst.” Anledningen till beslutet i fraga var den, att
Missionssiillskapet vid arsmotet, som hélls nagra dagar forut, naim-
ligen den 23 januari, anmodat styrelsen att kalla nagon pastor, hvil-
*

VAR KINA-MISSIONS VERKSAMHET 115

 

Vi ha nu gatt var framstallning ett langt stycke 1 forvig. Vi ha
ocksi Ofverskridit griinsen for vir uppgift att blott sysselsitta oss
med verksamheten hair hemma. Men vi ha velat nimna detta for att
paminna oss om huru Gud steg for steg ledde oss till det falt, vi nu
kalla vart i Honan, Kina.

Vi aterupptaga nu berattelsen, dir vi stannade for att géra denna
lilla utflykt till missionsfaltet i Kina. Nagon pastor, som var villig
att utga till det nya arbetsfaltet, hade annu ej blifvit funnen. Detta
var nu under ett par ars tid en af Missionssiillskapets angelignaste
omsorger. Manga allvarliga ofverlaggningar hollos, och mingas fér-
enade boner uppstego till Gud i detta drende.

Teol. studerande 8S. G. Hiagglund i Rock Island, Ill, som med
stort intresse omfattat hednamissionssaken, kallades under loppet af
ar 1903. Men Gud hade annorlunda beslutat. Icke heller han antog
kallelsen.

Under tiden sékte Missionssillskapet att verka for missionsintres-
sets utbredning och férdjupande hair hemma genom tidningsartiklar,
missionspredikningar och framfér allt genom stérre missionsmoten
och missionsfester i olika forsamlingar. Det intresse, som vid dessa
miten gaf sig tillkanna, vittnade tydligt nog om férhandenyaron af
den lingtan, hvarom forut talats. Missionssillskapets medlemsantal
dkades alltjimt. Fran alla delar af synoden inkommo anmialningar
om medlemskap jimte bidrag till den pitinkta verksamheten.

Ur den rapport, som styrelsen framlamnade till arsmotet, som hélls
i Augustana-kyrkan i Minneapolis, Minn., den 18 och 19 februari
1904, ma foljande anforas:

“Det bradskar med Herrens frende. Detta giller, nir det ar fraga
om sjilens frilsning och om verksamheten hir hemma. Det giiller
ocksa i friga om evangelii predikan for alla folk. Manniskor finnas
visserligen, hvilka halla fore, att den hogsta vishet i friga om andliga
ting bestar uti att skynda sakta. Det ar ocksi hvad de gora, saval 1
friga om sjalens frilsning som i fraga om verksamheten hair hemma
och i hednavarlden. Manga skynda si sakta, att doden 6fverraskar
dem, innan de hunnit bestilla om sitt hus; och det ar fara virdt, att
domen kommer att 6fverraska ganska manga, hvilka bira det kristna
namnet, innan de hunnit blifva fardiga att pa allvar efterkomma
Herrens sista befallning.

‘Tid ar blod’, sade Bismarck vid ett tillfille. Detta ager sin fulla
CAuyonsy ye Uoye} amyorg)
asoyy 0} Sur

OYO UB SL WALT d19M SpLolT ay, “pay ooxe ato

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VAR KINA-MISSIONS VERKSAMHET 117

 

bor antaga den erhillna kallelsen att med Guds nad och kraft séka
verka for evangelii sak p& missionsfaltet i Kina... .

Och nu dr min bin den, att Gud lagar det sa, att det steg jag tagit
atminstone icke mitte blifva Guds rikssak till skada; och ifall nigot
godt kan utrittas, dirfor skall Gud allena hafva dren.

Din tillgifne
A. W. Epwiys.”

Kallelsen antogs formligen vid Missionssiillskapets Arsméte i Center
City, Minn., den 13 och 14 februari 1905.

Att en missionsarbetare nu stod fardig att utga till Kina, det var
ett svar pa mangas forenade boner. Bakom denne arbetare, som nu
erbjod sig fdr tjansten i det stora hednalandet, stodo inga maktiga
organisationer, inga framstiende personer, hvilka kunde stodja fore-
taget, vare sig med sitt inflytande eller med penningmedel. Fran
denna synpunkt sedt var det icke blott vagadt, utan daraktigt att upp-
taga en verksamhet sidan som denna. Mer an nagonsin kande mis-
sionens vanner, att saken var Herrens, och att verksamheten for sin
framgang berodde pa Gud allena. De beslut, som ledde till Missions-
sillskapets bildande, fattades under bin. Motet, som hélls i Center
City, di pastor Edwins antog kallelsen till Kina, antog ocksi mer an
vanligt karaktiiren af ett bone- och tacksiigelseméte pa grund af den
forsta stora bonhorelsen i fraga om arbetare for den myckna skérden
i Kina.

Den 1+ och 15 september samma ar firades en stérre missionsfest,
hvarvid pastor A. W. Edwins afskildes for sitt viktiga kall. Den
forsta dagens fest holls i Gustaf Adolfskyrkan i St. Paul, den andra
i Augustana-kyrkan i Minneapolis, Minn. Det var en ofdrgitlig hog-
tid. Pastor C. B. L. Boman fran Bernadotte, Minn., uttalade i sitt
anforande till det utgiende missionsparet foljande: “Nar vi fa hora,
att den férste hedningen blifvit dépt pa vart nya missionsfalt, skola
vi hair hemma fira stor gladje- och tacksigelsefest.” Det ordet besan-
nades pa ett sitt, som ingen da kunde ana. Samma ar som Augustana-
synoden firade sitt femtioarsjubileum, inbirgades forstlingsskérden pa
vart falt i Honan. Huru mycket detta bidrog till att héja den all-
manna jubelstimningen, veta vi ej. Sakert ar, att manga gladdes
och prisade Gud, och i himmelen var det glidje hos Guds anglar.
116 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

tillampning pa missionen. Huru manga dyrt képta sjilar ga ej ur
tiden utan att ens ana, att det finnes en Friilsare! Och néden viaxer
och vaxer. Ty hedningen blir mer och mer hednisk med hyarje fly-
ende slikte. ‘Tid ar blod’, ty hedningarnas fotter aro snara till att
utgjuta blod, och de kristna folken hopa ‘blodsskulder’ 6fver sig.

Vi veta, att lydnaden fér en jordisk fader har ett sarskildt lofte
med sig. Men vi hafva ocksa enhet fjirde budet plikter gent emot
var himmelske Fader, och lydnaden fér hans bud, till hvilka afven
missionsbudet hor, har det allra stérsta lofte med sig. Vaga vi verk-
ligen allt fér Gud, sa fa vi afven vinta allt af Gud.

Vi hafva heft vara blickar riktade pa provinsen Honan, Kina, i
syfte att dar pabegynna missionsverksamhet. ... Vi hafva ocksa
tagit matt och steg for att till detta falt utsinda en missionir till att
bérja med. Huruvida denna tanke kommer att forverkligas si snart
som tinkt, aro vi ej i tillfalle att upplvsa om.”

Sa langt némnda rapport.

Vi ha latit detta utdrag ur styrelsens rapport inflyta, emedan det
gifver ett tamligen klart begrepp om i hvilken anda Missionssiillskapet
arbetade. De personer, som da voro pitankta sisom missionirer, fun-
no, sasom redan angifvits, andra falt i Guds stora vingard, dit de
kallades att ga for att tjina Herren.

Missionssallskapet héll nu sina blickar stadigt riktade pa provinsen
Honan i Kina. Men annu var bénen om arbetare obesvarad. Van-
tans- och profningstiden nalkades emellertid sitt slut. Genom Guds
sarskilda skickelse leddes tankarna pi pastor A. W. Edwins, di pastor
i svenska lutherska forsamlingen i Stillwater, Minn. Gud hade linge
i det fordolda hallit pa att bereda 4t sig denne man for verksamheten
i det afligsna hednalandet. J ratta stunden kom han ock i Atanke.
Mot slutet af ar 1904 utfairdades kallelse till honom, hvilken han 4f-
ven antog.

Ur det bref, hvari han for styrelsens ordférande tillkinnagaf sitt
beslut att antaga kallelsen till Kina, ma foljande anforas:

“Stillwater, Minn., den 9 februari 1905.
Pastor A. F. Almer,

Forest Lake, Minn. Herrens frid!

Hirmed far jag underritta dig, att jag efter manga biner och nog-
grant betinkande af saken har kommit till den éfvertygelsen, att jag
VAR KINA-MISSIONS VERKSAMHET 119

 

Ur tillgangliga anteckningar fran ar 1905 torde fdljande vara vardt
att meddela:

“Under november minad inkommo ganska rikliga bidrag till Kina-
missionen. Summan, som inkom, uppgick till omkring tolf hundra
dollars. Fran tvenne personer mottogos ett tusen dollars, fem hundra
fran hvardera. Herren Gud har i stor nid handlat med oss. Verket
ar Herrens. Ma vi befinnas trogna, och ma vi barnsligt forlita oss pa
honom! Vi vilja dagligen framligga denna sak infér honom i bénen,
ty han ar alltjimt samme underlige Gud. Han hér bon.”

Vid mer an ett tillfalle, di stérre summor behofdes for sirskilda
andamal, kommo de erforderiga medlen i ritta stunden missionen
tillhanda.

Vid Missionssillskapets arsméte i Zionskyrkan i Minneapolis,
Minn., den 26 januari 1906 beslots att kalla tvenne diakonissor fran
Bethesda diakonisshem, St. Paul, Minn., att utga till missionsfiltet
i Kina. Blott en kunde emellertid erhillas, nimligen syster Ingeborg
Nystul. Det hade under manga ar varit hennes bon, att Gud matte
bereda henne tillfalle att tjina honom i hednavirlden. Det hade ock-
si mangen gang sett ut, som skulle hennes 6nskan ej kunna uppfyllas.
Men Gud gjorde det mojigt. Han éppnade vig, dir ingen vig var.

Den 16 oktober 1906 antradde hon farden till det aflagsna Kina,
foljd af mangas varma valénskningar och forbéner. Hennes afskeds-
ord till hemmavarande vanner sammanfattades i Jesu lofte till den
missionerande forsamlingen: ‘Se, jag ar med eder alla dagar intill
yarldens ande.”

Det ar af stor betydelse for den missionerande forsamlingen, att
hon troget efterkommer Jesu befallning att bedja om arbetare for de
stora skérdefalten och for ofrigt om hvad som behdfves for verksam-
hetens vidmakthallande och utveckling. Det kommer stunder, da en
sidan bon, dar den oaflaitlgen ofvas, miste antaga karaktaren af en
verklig jakobskamp. Men det dr ocksaé under sidana férhallanden, som
strémmar af valsignelse tillfloda forsamlingen. Kina-missionen fick
i nagon man erfara detta under sin forsta utvecklingsperiod. Det ar
afvenledes af icke ringa betydelse, att arbetare samlas, hvilka pa knit
halla sina intag p& missionens arbetsfalt.

Under loppet af ar 1907 kallades tvenne likaremissiondrer, nim-
ligen Albert Okerstrom och C. P. Friberg. Den senare antog kallelsen
och verkar fortfarande i Kina.
118 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

Den 16 september antriidde pastor A. W. Edwins och hans fru,
Alfrida, f6dd Anderholm, fran Clayton, Wis., farden mot Kina. Den
20 i samma minad gingo de ombord pa angaren “Dakota”, som skulle
fora dem Ofver hafvet till bestimmelseorten. Ur det forsta bref, som
missionar Edwins under farden 6fver Ntilla hafvet skref hem, tillata
vi oss att anfora foljande:

“Det har beriittats oss (af missionirer, som aterviinde till Kina, 1
hvilkas siillskap de reste), att provinsen Honan dr alldeles vidéppen
for evangelium; och fér oss kan-
nes det uppmuntrande, allden-
stund vi naira det hoppet att fram-
deles fa upptaga ett nytt falt
inom néimnda provins. Invanare-
antalet i Honan uppgar till tju-
gotva millioner (mycket ligt rak-
nadt, de flesta angifva en hégre
siffra). Antalet missionirer ar
daremot ytterst litet. Ja, om an
Kinas alla missionirer flyttade
till Honan si finge anda hvarje
missioniir omkring sju tusen per-
soner att gifva andlig vard och i
manga fall lekamlig hjalp. ‘Skor-
den ar mycken, men arbetarna iro
fa.’ Ack, I kara trosbréder inom
Augustana-synoden, I hafven
manga plikter att fylla dar hem-

OR ere are ma, det medgifves, men forsum-

Editor of Kina Misstondren. men anda icke att racka den krist-

liga karlekens raddande hand till de arma hedningarna, och da I

goren nagot for dem, glémmen icke alldeles bort det af manga for-

gitna Kina med dess hundratals i tjockaste moérker famlande och i
djupaste elande férsmaktande millioner.”

Mycket vore hir att siga om verksamheten hir hemma under den
tid, som nu narmast féljde. Men det skulle fora oss lingre an syfte-
malet med denna afhandling medgifver. Det ma emellertid sigas,
att det ofta var for mer 4n en af missionens vinner en kampens tid
infor nadastolen. Den synliga hjilpen var aldrig stor, men uppgif-
terna tedde sig stérre och stérre med hvarje flyende ar.

 

 
VAR KINA-MISSIONS VERKSAMHET 121

 

Den 23 februari 1908 afskildes doktor Friberg och hans maka fér
missionsarbetet i Kina. Den hégtidliga akten forsiggick i St. Pauli-
kyrkan i Minneapolis, Minn. I denna férsamlings kyrka héll Mis-
sionssallskapet sitt forsta arsmoéte, sedan organisationen genom kon-
stitutionens antagande erhallit fast karaktir. Vid nimnda mite upp-
togs for forsta gangen frigan om kallandet af missionir pA allvar till
behandling. Forsamlingens pastor, E. O. Stone, hade ju ocks& varit
med i denna missionsrorelse ifran dess allra forsta borjan. Annu ett
stort steg framat hade nu tagits. Det hade namligen varit ett dnske-
mal och ett boneimne alltifran verksamhetens bérjan att finna en
lakare, som vore villig att offra sina krafter pi missionsfaltet i Kina.
Denna onskan var nu uppfylld. De nya missionsarbetarna afreste
fran St. Paul, Minn., den 27 i samma manad mot det fjiarran belagna
arbetsfaltet.

Den 6 december 1907 utfardades kallelse till teol. studerande A. E.
Trued att efter erhallen ordination utga som missionar till Kina.
Han antog kallelsen och afskildes for sin tjanst sasom missionir i
Gustaf Adolfskyrkan i St. Paul, Minn., den 9 oktober 1908 af teol.
doktor E. Norelius. Foljande tankar, nedtecknade vid tillfallet, ur
dr Norelii foredrag fortjana att har atergifvas:

“Huru har evangelium kommit till oss? Lirjungarna fingo be-
gynna i Jerusalem, den varsta plats som fanns, och sedan fortsiatta
utat mot varldens andar. Huru har Guds ord kommit till oss har 1
landet? Ofta p& mycket underbara vagar. Rorelser, som stundom
voro besynnerliga, fingo blifva medlet 1 Guds hand att oppna vagen
for oss. Herren regerar; han linkar handelserna sa tillsammans, att
de fa tjina hans sak.

Vi, som fdr 50 Ar sedan vandrade omkring i skogarna sa fattiga,
icke kunde val vi tro, att frukten skulle blifva hvad den ar.

Det ar nédvandigt att komma ihag Herrens uppdrag och férsakran :
‘Mig ar gifven all makt i himmelen och pa jorden. Gan férdenskull
ut och goren alla folk till larjungar!? ‘All makt!?) Hvem skulle da
grufva sig? Hvad formar all virlden mot Herren? En myra ma
resa sig i trots mot det framrullande vagnshjulet, men hon formar ej
att hindra dess lopp. Vi ha Herren bakom oss. Herren har all makt
i varlden, han har all makt i Kina.

Forsamlingar finnas, som kunde underhalla en missionir ensamma.
Om vi skulle fasta en dag for att hjailpa Herrens verk framit, sa do
vi icke fordenskull.
Caumnjoa sty} ur azayaasya savodde aanqord sty ‘uayey
sem ainjord aAoqe ay} uayA JUasaid Buteq utoay ssout[! Aq pajuaaatd sea ‘pieog ay} JO Joqtuaul v OSTe SBA OYA ‘sUBINI[NET “VY “D “AeyW)

“SI6T “CUvOd NOISSIW VNIHO

 
VAR KINA-MISSIONS VERKSAMHET 123

vara i Kina och att utbedja oss de medel, som krafvas for verksam-
hetens vidmakthallande och utveckling! ‘Tron pai Gud, hans makt
och vilja att hjalpa, far ej slappas, ansvars- och pliktkanslan far ej
forsvagas. Verket ar Herrens. Han sdker intet annat hos oss an
trohet. Varen sa till sinnes, som Kristus Jesus var! Jesus Kristus
ar densamme i gir och i dag och i evighet. “Den som tror pa mig —
si lyda hans ord annu i dag —, ifven han skall géra de giirningar,
som jag gor; och stérre an dessa skall han géra, ty jag gar till min
Fader: och allt hvad I bedjen i mitt namn, det skall jag gora, pa det
att Fadern ma blifva forhirligad i Sonen.” A. F. ALMER.

\ ES,
[eel
122 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

MAlet ar stort, men bérjan fr liten och svar. Jesu allmakt skall
hjalpa darute och har hemma. Ge vi oss bara tid att vinta pa Gud,
si gor han allt val. Det ar forst da, nar kyrkan begynner att bola
med varlden, som hon blir svag.”

Den 20 oktober afreste pastor A. E. Trued och hans maka, Theolina,
bada fran Swedeburg, Nebr., fran St. Paul, Minn., och den 28 samma
manad fran Amerika med Kina sisom mal.

Styrelsens ordférande under 4r 1907 var pastor B. Westerlund. Ar
1908 anfortroddes ordférandeskapet i styrelsen at pastor C. A. Hult-
krans, som alltifran verksamhetens bérjan varit medlem af styrelsen
samt kraftigt och of6rtrutet deltagit i friamjandet af denna missions
intressen. Pastor F. M. Eckman fran Center City, Minn., hvilken aret
forut eftertradt pastor C. J. Carlson saésom Missionssillskapets ord-
forande, tjinstgjorde 1 denna egenskap afven ar 1908, dai Missions-
sallskapets verksamhet 1 Kina dfvertogs af Augutsana-synoden. Mis-
sionir A. E. Trued, som kallats af Missionssillskapet, utsiindes folj-
aktligen icke af namnda organisation, utan af Augustana-synoden.

Det forsta kapitlet af Kina-missionens historia inom Augustana-
synoden var harmed afslutadt. En ny viktig period tog sin bérjan.
Mycket vore att saga afven om arbetet har hemma under de Ar, som
redan gatt tillanda af denna andra period. Men da det for narvarande
blott ar var uppgift att teckna nagra drag af verksamheten under de
forsta dren, si maste vi denna ging neka oss néjet att vidare félja
utvecklingen pa detta omrade.

Missionssallskapets medlemmar voro under verksamhetens ringhets-
dagar lifigt medvetna om att missionen var for sin existens och ut-
veckling helt och uteslutande beroende af Gud, pi samma ging de
djupt och allvarligt kiinde sitt ansvar och sin férpliktelse gent emot
verksamheten. Hvarje uppmuntran, hvarje framgang, hvarje svarig-
het, som hindrande lade sig i viigen, hvarje nytt bevis pa Guds bistand,
allt foljdes med ett intresse, diir den enes omsorg i det stora hela var
de mangas, afven om tankar och kinslor for 6frigt i mangt och mycket
voro ganska olika. Verksamheten féljdes och uppbars af mycken bon.
Dessa forhallanden gafvo at verksamheten under hela denna period
sin siregna prigel.

Behofven i detta afseende fro ingalunda mindre nu iin under den
allra forsta tiden. Missionen behdfver oaflatligen uppbiiras af en verk-
sam, uthallig bon. Ma vi gora det till en helig uppgift att tinka pa de
HVAD KUNNA VI GORA? 125

 

dens fralsning. Hvarje kristen bér utfora sitt prastambete, icke blott
i ord, utan afven i girningar, sisom apostlarna och de férsta kristna
gjorde.

Hvar och en kan utestiinga det myckna skrap, som erbjudes i littera-
turvig, och i stallet skaffa sig vara missionstidningar och sma trakta-
ter. Vi kunna afven se till, att andra fa dem. Vi kunna intressera
oss fér den stérsta tilldragelse i varlden, kristendomens kamp och
seger Ofver hedendomen, sa att vi skaffa oss ny missionslitteratur, den
allra sista, och afven flitigt lisa den. Hafva vi nagot kristligt sinne
alls, sé siger det oss, om vi blott borja meditera dirédfver, att dessa
saker framfor allt aro absolut nodvandiga for oss att lara kinna och
intressera oss for. Det finnes icke den ringaste ursaikt for att icke i
vara dagar allvarligt intressera sig for hednamissionen.

Vi kunna skaffa oss kinnedom om det folk vi arbeta ibland genom
att bland annat képa “The Chinese at Home” af J. D. Ball hos F. H.
Revell, Chicago, Ill, samt framfor allt i missionslitteraturvag: “The
Worldwide Expansion of Christianity” af Fennel P. Turner, Student
Volunteer Movement, New York. Den boken ensamt ar for erhal-
lande af missionssinne vird att, om sa skulle behofvas, siilja halfva
sitt bibliotek for att kopa den. Ja, man kunde hellre undvara en bit
af sin farm an att undvara missionslitteratur. Ingen kan ratt lisa
sistnimnda bok utan att fa missionssinne och formaga att rikligen
uppolfra for hednamissionen.

4. Vi behéfva for oss sjalfva blott det Gud har gifvit oss for vart
eget bruk; vi dro icke berittigade att taga ifrin de arma hednaingarna
det, som han gifvit dt oss att endast forvalta for deras riikning. Vara
skyldigheter emot var familj och var halsas vard aro berattigade,
men endast att darfor bruka det som ar vart. Vi fa se till vara
affarsintressen och betala vara skulder, men miaste vara noga med
att vi icke lata den arme hedningen lida brist pa Guds ord, for att vi
skola kunna utveckla vara jordiska intressen och betala vara skulder.
Det ar ratt, att vi bygga och forskéna kyrkor, underhalla vara for-
samlingar, uppehalla kirleksverksamhet och mission i kristenheten ;
men icke med de medel, som hora till vart formyndarskap for de stac-
kars hjalplosa och omyndiga hedningarna. Gud har penningar och
agodelar nog, ifven for spridandet af sitt evangelium bland hedning-
arna. Icke har han gifvit dessa gifvor at 4nglarna. Men han har
gifvit dem &t de kristna att forvalta for hedningarnas undervisning
 

 

 

HVAD KUNNA VI GORA FOR VAR MISSION I KINA?

ANE T hora ofta: Jag ville sa garna gora nagot for hedningarnas
Se ay frilsning, om jag blott kunde. Latom oss darfor rakna
he efter hvad vi kunna gora:

ae 1. Vi kunna vicka ungdomens intresse for hednamis-
stonen, sa att manga af dem ga ut i hednavarlden, och sa att alla de,
som stanna hemma, med férenadt nit rikigen underhalla det arbete,
som deras utgiende broder och systrar utfora. Darigenom kunna vi
bast ombestyra sa, att rikhe nad och Guds valsignelse foljer vara barn.

2. Vi kunna stalla framfor oss Jesu foredime och exemplet af vara
missionirer. Exemplets makt bora vi séka tillagna oss. Se, hvad
vara missionirer uppoffrat, da de lamnat bakom sig alla de fordelar
kristen civilisation erbjuder och dela med hedningarna deras smuts,
deras besvar och obekvimligheter pa alla sitt. Mussionarerna goéra
detta med glidje, ty de forbarma sig 6fver hedningarna. Det finnes
ingen orsak, hvarfér missionirerna skulle vara mera villiga att, sdsom
den barmhiartige samariten, kosta pa de arme, som fallit i réfvare-
hander, én vi. Vi hafva alla samma skyldighet att vara Jesu efter-
foljare till virldens fralsning som den missionar, som férst gick till
mianniskoitarna pa Sdderhafsdarna, medféljande ett krigsskepp, som
dock icke vagade ligga till land, utan missionéren fick ensam simma
i land med kladerna bundna pa ryggen och bibeln pa hufvudet. Vi
kunna blott utfora var skyldighet pa ett annat satt for hedningarnas
friilsning, men aro dock lika forbundna dartill. Storst air Kristi fore-
déme. Och han siger: “Sasom Fadern hafver sindt mig, sa sinder
jag eder.” Detta ar kristendom.

3. Vi kunna skaffa oss sidana kunskaper, som gifva oss missions-
sinne. Vi lasa var bibel och fatta Guds ord riatt pa sak om hela varl-

  
HVAD KUNNA VI GORA? 127

 

forebraelse darfér, emedan de gingo si naira mittet i Guds bud, att
de likval offrade nagot och en hanne i stillet for ett hondjur. Se Mal.
1 kap. Hur ar det med oss 1 den delen?

Genom Haggai befaller Gud Israel att efter aterkomsten fran Babel
skyndsamt bygga Herrens tempel; men da sade de: “Tiden ar annu
icke kommen att bygga Herrens hus”, och detta dirfor, att de ville
férst bygga sina egna hus. Sa siiga nagra kristna: Tiden fr ainnu
icke kommen f6r mig att gdra mycket for hedningens frilsning. Det-
ta ar en lika farlig ursikt som pa Haggais tid. Vi veta hvad Gud
siger om dem, som siga: Tiden ar annu icke kommen att bygga Her-
rens tempel. Detta giiller ock dem, som siiga: Tiden ar finnu icke
kommen fér mig att taga verksam del i hedningarnas frilsning, sa
lange jag har si manga egna intressen att uppoffra for. Da dessa
siga: Jag behofver annu till nagon tid mitt silfver och guld for mig
sjalf, sa siger Herren till dem: “Mitt dr bade silfver och guild, sdger
Herren Sebaot.” Haggai 2: 9.

5. Vi kunna och vi bora betala upp for hednamissionen, hvad vi
hvar och en fér sin del under den gangna tiden hallit inne af det, som
Gud gifvit oss att forvalta for hedningarnas frdlsning. Ay detta icke
vart utan hednamissionens, sa bora vi icke heller behalla det, utan be-
tala upp hvad vi under den gangna tiden icke gifvit eller icke gjort
hvad vi bort géra. En skuld blifva vi aldrig fria fran genom att
blott gilda en del, utan hela beloppet. Gud gore oss dari rattsinniga!
Men da behéfva vi si manga flera missionarer, som vi icke sindt
nog forut; ty penningar utan missionarer och en motsvarande mis-
sionsverksamhet fralsar inga hedningar. Darfor béra vi ock betala
upp uti ett sidant arbete, som framlockar och fostrar de personliga
krafterna harfor, si att vi fa nagra, som i missionens tjainst gora bruk
af de medel, vi hafva inne for hedningarnas fralsning. Vi bora betala
upp for denna sak, medan vi lefva. Och darfor ir det val, om vara
medel kunna brukas, innan vi installas infor domen for var sista all-
varliga och afgérande rakenskap. Vi bora ej beklaga, att dessa medel
behéfvas, utan vi bora akta det for en stor fordel, som vi pa det hogsta
glidjas ofver, att det nu kommit darhin, att de behofvas, sa att vi f&
betala upp hvad vi dro skyldiga. Vi hafva snart kommit sa lingt i
var synods hednamission, att vi behdfva icke lamna denna skuld efter
oss. Och vi visa, att vi dro kristna, om vi fro lika glada darat, som
vi vore, om det bereddes oss tillfalle att kollektera en fordran, som vi
126 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

om sin ratte Fader och uppfostran for Guds rike. Bruka vi dessa
medel for andra andamal, vore det an for kyrklig verksamhet hiir
hemma, sa att vi férsumma hednamissionen, sa aro vi lika brottsliga
som den som xtjal ur den kassa, som han ar satt att forvalta for andra.
Vi behéfva icke stjila ifian det som 6fverlamnats at oss for hedna-
varldens fralsning, ty om Vi
med sparsamhet och guds-
fruktan ritt anvinda det 6f-
riga, som fir vart, sa racker
det till allt det, som Guds
faderliga omsorg har for-
ordnat at oss och hvad som
hans vishet finner vara for
oss nyttigt. Men det ar icke
latt att dela ratt, ty vart
hjarta blir fangsladt till att
forvilla forstandet. Har
fordras kamp och inf6ran-
det af Gruds rattsprinciper,
Guds karleks kraft och
fralsningens riknekonst.
Hur langt hafva vi hunnit i
denna riknelira? Gud hjal-
pe oss att rakna ratt och ej
RE ORS SiS ROR BED taga sjilfviskheten till liro-
Rev. Torell served for several years as field mastare. Detta ar den vik-
secretary for the China Mission. tigaste punkten + hela: <aick
hf, att skilja emellan vart och Guds, sa att vi icke sammanblanda
var egendom med den, som vi blott aro satta att forvalta.

 

 

 

 

Israels barn hade befallning att offra at Gud friska och fardiga djur,
men da minskade de uppoffringen genom att offra halta, blinda och
kranka. Da Gud sade, att de skulle offra ett hondjur, s& offrade de
ett handjur, emedan det var nigot billigare, ej si mycken uppoffring
dari. Och da Gud har gifvit kristna minniskor si stora andliga och
lekainliga fordelar framfér hedningarna, att de fdr dessas valfird
borde offra minst 10 eller 20 dollars, sa minska de det till endast 1
eller hogst 5 och saga, att det ar vil gjordt. Darom siger Gud genom
Malaki: “Férbannad vare den bedragaren.” De ville icke hafva
SORGEBUD FRAN VART FALT I KINA 129

 

SORGEBUD FRAN VART FALT I KINA.

I bref fran syster Hanna Engberg, dateradt den 26 september 1915,
och ett fran pastor A. EK. Trued ett par dagar senare mottogo vi nnder-
rattelsen, att déden giastat bland vara missionirer 1 Kina. ‘Tidigt pa
séndagsmorgonen den 26 september slutade fru C. O. Forsberg sin
lefnadsbana vid var missionsstation i Hstichow, Honan, Nina. Orsa-
ken till hennes déd var ett hundhett, som hon fick for ett Ar sedan for-
liden maj. Hon hade ej haft nagot vidare men af detsamma, sedan
hon mottog behandling af en lakare for
hydrophobia, men helt plotsligt brét det
ut pa nytt, och efter en vecka af obeskrif-
het lidande fick hon ingomna lugnt och
stilla i fast tro pa sin Fralsare.

Syster Hanna Engberg, som fick till-
falle att sk6ta henne under hela tiden, be-
rattar om hennes lidande i sammandrag
som foljer: I dag pad morgonen, dia jag
vaknade, sken solen sa klart 6fver vara
nejder, att jag kunde ej annat an tanka pa
huru god Gud ar mot oss alla. Men jag
fann senare pa dagen, att denna skéna
morgon var endast Guds satt att forbereda
oss for ett sorgebudskap, som griper oss
alla djupt. Inom ett par timmar, kl. 7:15
f. m., kom dédsiingeln och himtadeenaf — yepg ¢@ 0. PORSBERG.
vara medarbetare, fru Forsberg, och forde
henne till det himmelska hemmet. Familjen Forsberg hade flyttat hit
i augusti, och de héllo just pa att bygga ett litet hus, da de skulle bo
har vid stationen. Fru Forsberg var si glad som en liten fagel dfver
hoppet att fa taga fatt i arbetet vid denna station, men innan hon
hann att fA sitt lilla hus i full ordning, nedlades hon pa sjukbadden.

Herr Forsberg kom genast till mig och begirde att fa medicin for
sin hustru, och jag skyndade till hennes sjuklager. Jag anade, hvad
som var orsaken till hennes sjukdom, och sinde genast bud till dr
Lindorff. Vi kunde ej invanta hans ankomst, utan maste sinda efter:

 
128 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

fruktat att vi skulle férlora. Lyckliga skickelse, att vi sisom samfund
och enskilda fatt utsikt att kunna betala var hednamissionsskuld !

6. Vikunna sedan betala upp for hvarje dr. Vi kunna det, emedan
ingen far mindre utan stérre formaiga genom gifvandet. Detta behof-
ves, ty missionen behéfver arligt understéd och ej blott for en gang.
Men lika mycket behdfves det for var egen del, sa att vi icke ater kom-
ma i skuld. Vi fa kristendomens vilsignelse for hvarje ar, och af
hvad Gud gifver oss arligen iir en del imnadt for hedningarnas frals-
ning. Detta arsbidrag bér 4 ena sidan ej tagas till for litet och 4
andra sidan vara ett frivilligt karleksoffer, som hellre 6kas med aren
an minskas, ty for hvarje ar, som vi betala var del, fa vi storre valsig-
nelse och ett mera kristligt sinne, si att vi kunna éka vart drsanslag.
Da vi géra godt, sa latom oss icke tréttna, siger Paulus, ty vi skola
ock i sinom tid skérda, evigt skorda.

Vart svar pa den frigan: Hvyad kunna vi gora for var mission 1
Kina? ar salunda:

Vi kunna vacka ungdomens intresse for hednamissionen. Vi kunna
stailla framfor oss Jesu fdredéme och exemplet af vara missionirer.
Vi kunna skaffa oss sidana kunskaper, som gifva oss missionssinne.
Vi behéfva for oss sjilfva endast det Gud har gifvit oss for vart eget
bruk; vi dro icke berattigade att taga ifrin de arma hedningarna det,
som han gifvit at oss att endast forvalta for deras rakning. Vi kunna
och bora betala upp for hednamissionen hvad vi hvar och en fdr sin
del hallit inne af det, som Gud gifvit oss att forvalta for hedningarnas
fralsning. Vi kunna sedan betala upp fdr hvarje dr. Den som vill
blott tyda Guds vilja och arligen eller for hvarje vecka afsitta en del
af sina inkomster for denna mission, och den som vill darfor bruka
samma nit som for sina egna behof, skall kunna andra sitt: Jag kan
icke, till: Jag kan och jag skall. Den som ir trogen i Herrens, at den
skall han anfortro mycket, som han med tacksamhet far kalla sitt eget,
jordiska agodelar med valsignelse och eviga, himmelska nadeskatter.
Du sager: Fordringar, bara fordringar och palagor. Nej, min vin,
vi vilja icke hafva nagra fordringar och palagor for hednamissionen.
Gud har ej i nya testamentet foreskrifvit nagon viss summa, utan
lamnat detta at karleken till Jesus Kristus och ett kristligt forstand
att gifva i proportion till de inkomster, som hvar och en har och sa-
som behofvet krafver. Dock icke njuget efter kéttets sinne, utan rik-
ligt efter Andens sinne. J. Tore.
LIST OF MISSIONARIES 131

 

des firade de sitt brdllop och reste till Kina. Deras inflytande vid
Luther College var af stor betydelse, och alla studerande, som vistades
dar under denna tid, fingo del af den oskrymtade gudsfruktan, som
besjalade dem. Matte Herren sirskildt valsigna hr Forsberg, som nu
liamnats ensam. Han har varit var mission till stor tjinst redan, och
vi hoppas att Herren later honom tjina med sitt pund annu manga ar.
O. J. JOHNSON.

 

 

 

 

 

LIST OF MISSIONARIES.
Name: Arrived: Station.
Rev. and Mrs. A. W. Edwins...... Oct. 1905 |Hsiichow, Honan, China
Sister Ingeborg Nystul........... Nov. 1906 |Kiahsien, Honan, China
Dr. and Mrs. C. P. Friberg.......- April 1908 ;|Honanfu, Honan, China
Rev. and Mrs. A. E. Trued........ Nov. 1908 |Juchow, Honan, China
Mrs. Magda Lindbeck ............ Noy. 1910 |Hcnanfu, Honan, China
Mr. C. O. A. Spira.... cece ee eee Nov. 1911 |Yiichow, Honan, China
Sister Hanna Engberg ........... Nov. 1912 |Hstichow, Honan, China
Sister Thyra Lawson ............+. Nov. 1912 |Kiahsien, Honan, China
Rev. M. B. Hanson ........-..0.. Nov. 1912 |Juchow, Honan, China
Rev. J. W. Lindbeck ............. Nov. 1912 /Honanfu, Honan, China
Dr O. W. Lindorff.............006. Nov. 1912 |Juchow, Honan, China
Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Forsberg....... Nov. 1913 |Honanfu, Honan, China
Rev. and Mrs. V. E. Swenson...... Nov. 19138 |Kiahsien, Honan, China
Mrs. Hedvig Lindorff............. Jan, 1914 |Juchow, Honan, China
Rev. and Mrs. J. L. Benson........ Sept. 1914 |/Hstichow, Honan, China
Rev. and Mrs. Nels Benson........ Sept. 1914 |Kiahsien, Honan, China
Rev. and Mrs. G. Carlberg........ Sept. 1914 |Hsiichow, Honan, China
Rey, and Mrs. J. J. Lindell........ Sept. 1914 /Hcnanfu, Honan, China
Rev. and Mrs. David Vikner....... Sept. 1914 /Ytichow, Honan, China
Miss Hanna J. Colberg........... Sept. 1914 |Kiahsien, Honan, China
Sister Elvira Pearson............. Dec. 1914 |Hstichow, Honan, China
Mrs..C. O. A. Sphira ............. Entered 1914 |Yiichow, Honan, China
130 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

en annan likare pa nirmare hall, men allt forgifves. Efter en vec-
Kas svart lidande var kampen ofver.

Om hennes sista stunder siger syster Engberg: I trots af de svara
pligor, som hon ied, visade hon ingen otalighet. Hon bar allt med
Iugn och undergifvenhet. Dagen fore hennes déd satt jag vid hennes
dédsliger och undrade éfyer om jag skulle siga henne hvad som fore-
stod henne. Hon syntes férstaé, att jag ej kunde fa fram hvad som
lig mig pa hjartat, och hjalpte mig i detta svira lige genom att fraga:
“Tror syster, att jag snart far gi hem? Manske fair jag gi nu? Jag
ar si giad, ty jag vill se mera af Jesus och vara nar honom. Jag
vet, att jag far komma till honom, andock jag ar ovirdig.”

Foljande dag, di jag kom in i rummet, fann jag henne bedjande.
Hon bad mig att ligga ned i singen bredvid henne, ty hon bafvade for
att vara ensam, da plagorna kommo. “Nu har jag bedt Gud’, sade
hon. “att gdra mig snall, si att jag inte blir styge, da plagorna kom-
ma.” Gud horde i sanning hennes bén, och jag har aldrig sett en sda-
dan sjilfhehirskning hos nagon manniska. Sa lange som jag lefver,
kommer jag att tacka Gud for tillfallet att skota henne under detta
lidande, ty Guds underliga vigar att leda de sina hafva blifvit mera
tydligt uppenbarade fér mig én nagonsin forut.

Fru Forsberg var ej med oss linge, och vi kunna frestas att klaga
éfver Guds handlingssétt, men den sista veckans erfarenheter ofverty-
gade mig om att dessa t]ugutva manader, som hon vistats pa faltet 1
Kina, icke voro fargifves. Under ar som stunda skola vi fa erfara,
“att hon talar, andock hon dod ar.”

Pastor Trued saéger i sitt bref, att detta dédsbud bor paminna oss om
att “vi bora verka, medan dagen varar, natten kommer, da ingen kan
verka.”

Hrvem vill taga upp hennes arbele?

Vi aro vissa om att nar Herren tager bort en arbetare, uppvicker
han en annan, som kommer att upptaga den fallnes mantel. Dessa
vara viinner gjorde stora uppolfringar for att bereda sig for arbetet.
De voro firdiga att fira sitt bréllop, di pastor Torell traffade dem i
Moline, IIL, for fyra ar sedan, och da han framstallde missionssaken
for dem, beslutade de sig for att uppskjuta sitt bréllop och reste till
Luther College, Wahoo, Nebr., dir jag hade tillfalle att traffa dem och
twngis med dem under studietiden. Efter tvenne Ars vistelse dirsta-
132 OUR FIRST DECADE IN CHINA

 

GENERAL STATISTICS OF AUGUSTANA SYNOD MISSION
covering the twelve months between Jan. 1, 1914, to Jan. 1, 1915.

V. E. Swenson, Statistician.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

| A. FOREIGN FORCE, B. CHINESE FORCE.
STATION. = s =
] |
Hstichow ..... Lheayu 2 2 5
Yuichow ......].... 1 ie 5 1 3 9
Kiahsienm, sacs 2 beads | ess s [eyes i We 3 1 2 6
Juchow ...... 2 2 Asie DB ycerwass it 12
Honanfu ..... 1 1 2 1 2 5
Chikungshan Gil uote!) TBI) 2 GT) OB UA coe anc Mhsae bse tae arhayedele Gallon eee and
10 4) 14 5| 138] 18] 32 17 4| 16 37
‘ , a‘ Dz.
C. CHINESE CHURCH. EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS.
Fall members we 3 s Sunday- Lower Elementary Schools.
STATION. Communicants Ee} as roel ®
| Men |Women| Total | 24 € |(each|Pupils|| & 2S £5
2 ers Rn a an Aa
Hsitichow ..... | Ey eR leyesa OZ shares oeelieada |leeae lease S Bpscetl swus avers
Ytichow ...... | ea na etek s Bibl 5 cae olde) eset [igre 2 2] 45/....] 45
Kiahsien ..... lheeettasied E Ti lsteese bachete Panay We Geel hash sates (Mcalleaa 4
AUEHOW ca scas lav n en's Sees, Ac causioce Pega Slee aye 2 2} 21 2| 28
FIOWENIG. ccacnclan sn ahes ei BO cele ey 2} 30 1 1| 16 16
|itses ice fe sears LOD. ese s 2| 380 5 5| 82 2| 84
E. MEDICAL STATISTICS.
Hospitals Dispensaries | = Medical
, | ni (| C= egg | Schools or
STATION, aes = | 5 75 |\. Glasses
E24 “nk ;
=| 5e 2 2) 2e| =.
a | “8 Bf | HE) 85
Hstichow ......].... AM cc cecact apy. Sep bled. mca] a delle thet 1,350]....]....
MUCHOW* tac sec seG.| dtees | atcectal he oases ape oleae bee DY Silane. ae 1,500|... 2/0...
Kiahsien ......].... Qiang lad ole 2 vs aoe 1 962} 1,062/....)....
Juchow ....... Do sea Ser seans sucka tl| eae DOO hea eeeissas dita 's evade
Honanfu ...... Desa MN ict al gS a a haes Ole wes eae DAT ae sland ae
2 3 My salen asaars [ce Re 5] 3,289] 5,884)....)....

 
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